Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC.

Common Name : Three flowered tickerfoil
Family : Fabaceae

HABIT

A WIRY, SPREADING, PERENNIAL HERB, UP TO 0.5 M LONG.

STEMS

WITH A RADIAL GROWTH HABIT, OFTEN ROOTING AT BASAL NODES, SPARSELY PILOSE.

LEAVES

ALTERNATE, TRIFOLIATE; LEAFLETS OBCORDATE, EMARGINATED AT APEX, CUNEATE AT BASE, MARGINS ENTIRE, UPPER SURFACE GLABROUS, LOWER WITH SPARSE APPRESSED HAIRS; TERMINAL LEAFLET 4-9 MM LONG AND 3-10 MM WIDE, LATERAL LEAFLETS SMALLER.

FLOWERS

INFLORESCENCE SESSILE, LEAF-OPPOSED FASCICLES OF 2-4 FLOWERS; PURPLISH OR BLUISH.

FRUITS

POD LINEAR OR OBLONG, 1-1.5 CM LONG, CONTINUOUS ALONG UPPER SUTURE, INDENTED ON LOWER SUTURE, WITH 4-5 RETICULATE JOINTS, 3-5-SEEDED.