Herbs, perennial. Stems ascend­ing or erect, usually striate, unbranched to inflorescence, 50–100 cm, uncinate-puberulent. Leaves trifoliolate; stipules mostly persistent, linear to narrowly ovate-deltate, 2–5 mm; petiole 6.5–18 mm; leaflet blades linear to narrowly oblong, usually folded and appearing narrower, leathery, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces reticulate-veined adaxially, glabrous or sparsely puberulent abaxially, glabrous adaxially; terminal blade 35–60(–80) × 4–7 mm, length 8–10 times width. Inflorescences branched or unbranched; rachis densely uncinate-puberulent to pubescent; primary bracts narrowly lanceolate-triangular, 1.4–2 mm. Pedicels 5–13 mm. Flowers: calyx 2.5–3.5 mm, uncinate-puberulent to pubescent on lobes, tube 1 mm; abaxial lobes 2–2.5 mm, lateral lobes 1.5–2 mm; corolla pink or purple, 4 mm. Loments: sutures deeply crenate abaxially, with narrow connection between segments, nearly straight adaxially, slightly sinuate at isthmus; connections adaxial, 1/5 as broad as segments; segments 1 or 2(or 3), semiorbiculate, 4.5–6 × 3–4 mm, symmetrically rounded abaxially, incipiently or plainly concave adaxially, densely uncinate-puberulent, more densely on sutures; stipe 1.5 mm. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Dry woodland, barren sandhills, ruderal areas.
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Distribution

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Ala., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tex., Va.

Discussion

Desmodium strictum is mostly restricted to dry, sandy soils along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Because of the close similarities between D. strictum and D. tenuifolium, mature fruits are necessary to distinguish the two species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.