Desmodium rotundifolium DC.

Prostrate Tick Trefoil; Roundleaf Tick Trefoil; Dollar Leaf

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Prostrate Tick Trefoil is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Prostrate Tick Trefoil occurs in hardwood forests, on prairies, in cedar glades, and on roadsides. It is usually found in areas with rich, mesic soils. Prostrate Tick Trefoil is a prostrate herbaceous perennial from a tap root. The stems are pubescent with long, soft hairs, trail along the ground, and are up to 6 feet long. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and pinnately trifoliate. The petiole is pubescent, and stipules are persistent and conspicuous. Leaflets are ovate to suborbicular in outline, and pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers are produced in erect, axillary racemes. Individual flowers are papilionaceous and blush-purple in color. The fruit is a loment with 3-6 segments. The fruit segments are pubescent with hooked hairs on their surface. Prostrate Tick Trefoil often does not produce fruit, especially in the southern portion of its range.—A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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