Herbs, perennial, diffuse; base woody, rootstock woody. Stems erect, ascending, or pro­cumbent, usually striate, 30–60(–100) cm, sparsely to densely pilose and uncinate-pubescent. Leaves trifoliolate, sometimes unifoliolate proximally; stipules persistent, recurved, subulate, 2–3 mm; petiole 7–25 mm; leaflet blades usually oblong-ovate to narrowly so, sometimes broadly elliptic to oblong, apex obtuse or acute, surfaces sparsely uncinate-puberulent; terminal blade 10–30(–35) × 8–10 mm, length 1–3.5 times width. Inflorescences usually unbranched, some­times branched; rachis patent uncinate-puberulent; primary bracts narrowly ovate, 2.5–3 mm. Pedicels 8–15 mm. Flowers: calyx 1.5–2.5 mm, pubescent, tube 1 mm; abaxial lobes 1.5 mm, lateral lobes 1 mm; corolla pink-purple, 4–5 mm. Loments: sutures subequally crenate; connections central, 1/5–1/4 as broad as segments; segments 2–7, rounded or broadly elliptic, 2.5–3 × 2.5 mm, abaxially and adaxially rounded, glabrous or slightly puberulent; stipe 1–2 mm.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Wooded or grassy rocky slopes, oak or oak-pine forests.
Elevation: 1400–2100 m.

Distribution

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Ariz., Mexico, Central America (Guatemala).

Discussion

Desmodium retinens is known in the flora area from Cochise, Graham, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.