Desmodium nuttallii

Herbs or subshrubs, perennial. Stems ascending to erect, 30–100 cm, medially villous, uncinate-puberulent and -pubescent, scarcely pilose. Leaves trifoliolate; stipules persistent, narrowly ovate or ovate, 3–6.5 mm; petiole 5–30 mm; leaflet blades ovate to narrowly ovate, base usually rounded, apex obtuse or acute, surfaces closely spreading-villous (often velvety) abaxially, slightly uncinate-puberulent on veins adaxially; terminal blade 50–100 × 30–56 mm, length 1.5–2(–2.2) times width. Inflorescences terminal and branched; rachis patent uncinate-puberulent and pilose; primary bracts ovate, 2–4 mm, usually villous. Pedicels 4–10 mm. Flowers: calyx 2–3 mm, puberulent and sparsely pilose, tube 1 mm; abaxial lobes 1.5–2 mm, lateral lobes 1 mm; corolla purple or pink, 6–7 mm. Loments: sutures deeply crenate abaxially, sinuate adaxially; connections adaxial, 1/4–1/3 as broad as segments; segments 2–4, semiorbiculate, 4–7 × 3–4.5 mm, rounded abaxially, convex adaxially, often somewhat angled when young, uncinate-pubescent throughout; stipe 3–4 mm.

Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Open woodlands and borders, savannas, fields, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–900 m.

Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa