Herbs, perennial, sometimes mat-forming; rhizomatous. Stems prostrate, decumbent, or trailing, branched from base, 25–70 cm, uncinate-puberulent to -pubescent. Leaves usually trifoliolate, rarely unifoliolate proximally; stipules persistent, reflexed, narrowly deltate, 3–5.5 mm; petiole 12–20 mm; leaflet blades pale green abaxially, broadly ovate to suborbiculate, apex obtuse, surfaces clearly reticulate-veined abaxially, prominently reticulate-veined adaxially, loosely strigu­lose or glabrescent abaxially, appressed, bulbous-pilose adaxially; terminal blade 20–45 × 15–25 mm, length 1.2–1.7 times width. Inflorescences terminal and unbranched; rachis densely patent uncinate-pubescent and often bulbous-pilose; primary bracts ovate, 4.5–6.5 mm. Pedicels 10–15 mm. Flowers: calyx 5–6 mm, pubescent, tube 1 mm; abaxial lobes 4–5 mm, lateral lobes 3–4 mm; corolla pink, lilac to purple, or greenish white, 7–8 mm. Loments: sutures crenate abaxially, strongly crenate adaxially; connections adaxial, 1/3 as broad as segments; segments (2 or)3–6, elliptic to suborbiculate, 4.5–8 × 3–5 mm, symmetrically rounded abaxially, convex adaxially, densely uncinate-pubescent throughout; stipe 3–3.5 mm. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Pine, juniper, oak woodlands, grasslands, canyons, sandy alluvia along streams, moist areas, roadsides.
Elevation: 1600–2400 m.

Distribution

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Ariz., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, México, Puebla, Sonora, Tamaulipas).

Discussion

In the flora area, Desmodium grahamii is known from the trans-Pecos region of Texas; it is also found in the southern half of Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.