Desmodium canescens (L.) Poir.

Hoary Tick Trefoil

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Hoary Tick Trefoil is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It occurs in scattered areas across Alabama. Hoary Tick Trefoil grows along the margins of rich hardwood forests, around the edges of prairies, along streams, and along roads. It is an erect perennial with stems 3-6 feet in height. The stems are pubescent with both straight and uncinate (hooked) hairs. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and pinnately trifoliate. The stipules are large and clasping at the base. The leaflets are ovate to lanceolate in outline, uncinate pubescent (especially on the lower leaf surface), with entire margins. The flowers are produced in a terminal panicle. The flowers are papilionaceous and pink/purple in color. The fruit is a segmented legume known as a loment. The loment is uncinate pubescent and has 4-6 segments. The fruit segments of Tick Trefoils are commonly called Beggar’s Lice. They attach to clothing or animal hair as a means of dispersal.--A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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