Growth Form: San Pedro Ticktrefoil is an herbaceous plant with a taproot. The stems are from a woody crown; plants are low growing; erect, spreading, or decumbent; the stems are prostrate, trailing and hairy.
Leaves: San Pedro Ticktrefoil has light green leaves, blotched around a prominent midrib and further surrounded by darker green blotches; leaves are alternate and trifoliolate, with variable shape leaflets which are lanceolate to ovate; the leaves are petiolate.
Flower Color: Blue, lavender, purple or violet; on the small size but quite showy, flower petals blue; fruit is a constricted pod, a legume. The Greek root “desmos” means “chain”, a reference to the look of the fruit. See photo above.
Flowering Season: May or June to September, blooms following summer monsoons.
Elevation: 3,000 to 6,500 feet (914 to 1,981 m).
Habitat Preferences: Rocky hillsides, grasslands and mesas in generally high desert areas reaching upward to Pinyon Juniper communities and into coniferous forests.
Recorded Range:Desmodium batocaulon in found in AZ, NM, and TX. It is also native to the northern and parts of central Mexico.
Genus Information: In North America, USDA Plants Database lists 57 species for Desmodium. Of the 57 species, 49 are native and 8 are introduced. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 373 accepted species names for the genus.
The genus Desmodium is derived from the Greek root “desmos” for chain, which is a reference to the jointed seed pods, the species batocaulon is of uncertain origin.
The genus Desmodium was published in 1813 by Desvaux, Nicaise Auguste Desvaux, (1784-1856).
Comments:Desmodium as a whole are referred to as the Tick-clovers and less commonly as Beggar-ticks. Beggar-ticks are much more commonly applied to the genus Bidens. The Type specimen of Desmodium batocaulon is from the San Pedro River Charles Wright, (1811-1885), American botanist). San Pedro Ticktrefoil is found from middle to upper elevations.
Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock
San Pedro Ticktrefoil, Desmodium batocaulon has attractive flowers, the flowers and their seeds may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of nectar or food.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honeybees and Insects
San Pedro Ticktrefoil, Desmodium batocaulon has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, Native Bees and other insects in search of food and nectar.
Etymology:
The genus Desmodium is derived from the Greek root “desmos” for chain, which is a reference to the jointed seed pods, the species batocaulon is of uncertain origin.
The species epithet batocaulon is of uncertain origin.
The full species Desmodium batocaulon was published in 1853 by Asa Gray, (1810-1888).
