Herbs, perennial. Stems erect or ascending, usually striate, angled, 30–90 cm, densely uncinate-puberulent. Leaves trifoliolate; stipules caducous, linear-lanceolate, 1–4 mm; pet­iole 3–13 mm; leaflet blades somewhat paler abaxially, narrowly ovate-oblong, lateral slightly smaller than terminal, apex acute, lateral veins looped within margin, margins revolute, surfaces strigulose; terminal blade 30–80 × 6–20 mm, length 3–5 times width. Inflorescences branched or unbranched; rachis densely uncinate-puberulent; primary bracts caducous, broadly deltate, 6 mm. Pedicels 7–10 mm. Flowers: calyx 4 mm, glabrous, tube 1.5–2 mm; abaxial lobes 2 mm, lateral lobes 1.5–2 mm; corolla purple, 10–12 mm. Loments: sutures ± deeply crenate abaxially, crenate adaxially; connections slightly adaxial, 1/2 as broad as segments, sometimes contorted (twisted); segments 2–5, elliptic, 5–6 × 3 mm, rounded abaxially, slightly rounded adaxially, uncinate-pubescent throughout; stipe 1–2 mm.

Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, canyons, ditches.
Elevation: 1400–2000 m.

Distribution

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Ariz., N.Mex., Mexico (Sinaloa).

Discussion

In the flora area, Desmodium metcalfei is known from Coconino and Yavapai counties in central Arizona, and from southwestern New Mexico.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.