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179 Species of Genus Desmodium

Desmodium: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to a Diverse Genus

I’m Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate world of plants. One genus that particularly caught my eye is Desmodium, a diverse group with a knack for sticking around. You might know them as tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers, or beggar lice – nicknames earned from their seed pods that cling stubbornly to clothing and fur. These plants, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, are more than just hitchhikers; they play a vital role in their ecosystems and offer a range of potential benefits to humans.

A World of Desmodium

The genus Desmodium boasts a remarkable diversity, with estimates ranging from 250 to 400 species. They are widely distributed across the globe, thriving in tropical and subtropical regions. Here in Vietnam, I often encounter them on my hikes, their delicate pink or purple flowers adding splashes of color to the landscape.

Identifying Desmodium can be a bit tricky, as their appearance varies considerably. Some species are creeping vines, while others stand tall as shrubs. However, they share some common features:

  • Trifoliate leaves: Most Desmodium species have leaves composed of three leaflets.
  • Small flowers: Their flowers are typically small and arranged in racemes or panicles.
  • Segmented seed pods: The most distinctive feature is their fruit, a loment, which breaks into individual segments that readily attach to passersby.

Here are species within this fascinating genus:

  1. Desmodium affine Schltdl.
  2. Desmodium alamanii DC.
  3. Desmodium album (Schindl.) J.F.Macbr.
  4. Desmodium ambiguum Hemsl.
  5. Desmodium amplifolium Hemsl.
  6. Desmodium amplistipulaceum L.Torres-Colín & L.O.Alvarado
  7. Desmodium angustatum (Rose & Standl.) Standl.
  8. Desmodium angustifolium (Kunth) DC.
  9. Desmodium arechavaletae Burkart
  10. Desmodium arizonicum S.Watson
  11. Desmodium axillare (Sw.) DC.
  12. Desmodium batocaulon A.Gray
  13. Desmodium bellum (S.F.Blake) B.G.Schub.
  14. Desmodium bioculatum S.Watson
  15. Desmodium bridgesii (Schindl.) Burkart
  16. Desmodium burkartii L.C.P.Lima & Vanni
  17. Desmodium cajanifolium (Kunth) DC.
  18. Desmodium callilepis Hemsl.
  19. Desmodium campyloclados Hemsl.
  20. Desmodium canadense (L.) DC.
  21. Desmodium canaliculatum B.G.Schub.
  22. Desmodium canescens (L.) DC.
  23. Desmodium caripense (Kunth) G.Don
  24. Desmodium chartaceum Brandegee
  25. Desmodium chiapense Brandegee
  26. Desmodium ciliare (Muhl. ex Willd.) DC.
  27. Desmodium cinerascens A.Gray
  28. Desmodium cinereum (Kunth) DC.
  29. Desmodium coloniense M.E.Jones
  30. Desmodium conzattii Greenm.
  31. Desmodium cordistipulum Hemsl.
  32. Desmodium craspediferum A.M.G.Azevedo & F.Oliveira
  33. Desmodium crassum M.E.Jones
  34. Desmodium cubense Griseb.
  35. Desmodium cuneatum Hook. & Arn.
  36. Desmodium cuspidatum (Muhl. ex Willd.) DC. ex G.Don
  37. Desmodium delotum J.F.Macbr.
  38. Desmodium densiflorum Hemsl.
  39. Desmodium denudatum DC.
  40. Desmodium distortum (Aubl.) J.F.Macbr.
  41. Desmodium fernaldii B.G.Schub.
  42. Desmodium floridanum Chapm.
  43. Desmodium foliosum Hemsl.
  44. Desmodium ghiesbreghtii Hemsl.
  45. Desmodium glabellum (Michx.) DC.
  46. Desmodium glabrescens Malme
  47. Desmodium glabrum (Mill.) DC.
  48. Desmodium gracile M.Martens & Galeotti
  49. Desmodium grahamii A.Gray
  50. Desmodium guadalajaranum S.Watson
  51. Desmodium guaraniticum (Chodat & Hassl.) Malme
  52. Desmodium guianense DC.
  53. Desmodium hartwegianum Hemsl.
  54. Desmodium hassleri (Schindl.) Burkart
  55. Desmodium helleri Peyr.
  56. Desmodium hirsutum M.Martens & Galeotti
  57. Desmodium hookerianum D.Dietr.
  58. Desmodium × humifusum (Muhl. ex Bigelow) L.C.Beck
  59. Desmodium illinoense A.Gray
  60. Desmodium incanum (Sw.) DC.
  61. Desmodium infractum DC.
  62. Desmodium intermedium Burkart
  63. Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb.
  64. Desmodium jaliscanum S.Watson
  65. Desmodium johnstonii Standl. ex B.G.Schub.
  66. Desmodium karwinskii (Schindl.) L.Torres-Colín & A.Delgado
  67. Desmodium laevigatum (Nutt.) DC.
  68. Desmodium lagopodioides Endl.
  69. Desmodium lamprocarpum Hemsl.
  70. Desmodium lavanduliflorum Standl.
  71. Desmodium leiocarpum (Spreng.) G.Don
  72. Desmodium lempirae C.Nelson
  73. Desmodium leptoclados Hemsl.
  74. Desmodium leptomeres (S.F.Blake) B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  75. Desmodium limense Hook.
  76. Desmodium lindheimeri Vail
  77. Desmodium lineatum DC.
  78. Desmodium longiarticulatum (Rusby) Burkart
  79. Desmodium lupulinum Schltdl.
  80. Desmodium luteolum Standl.
  81. Desmodium macrodesmum (S.F.Blake) Standl. & Steyerm.
  82. Desmodium macropodium Hemsl.
  83. Desmodium macrostachyum Hemsl.
  84. Desmodium madrense Hemsl.
  85. Desmodium marilandicum (L.) DC.
  86. Desmodium maxonii (Standl.) Standl.
  87. Desmodium membranifolium L.C.P.Lima, A.M.G.Azevedo & L.P.Queiroz
  88. Desmodium metallicum (Rose & Standl.) Standl.
  89. Desmodium metcalfei (Rose & J.H.Painter) Kearney & Peebles
  90. Desmodium mexiae B.G.Schub.
  91. Desmodium michelianum (Schindl.) B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  92. Desmodium michoacanum B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  93. Desmodium micranthum (Schindl.) J.F.Macbr.
  94. Desmodium microcarpum (Rusby) L.C.P.Lima, A.M.G.Azevedo & L.P.Queiroz
  95. Desmodium miniatura Standl. & L.O.Williams
  96. Desmodium molliculum (Kunth) DC.
  97. Desmodium monticola Brandegee
  98. Desmodium nicaraguense Oerst.
  99. Desmodium nitidum M.Martens & Galeotti
  100. Desmodium novogalicianum B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  101. Desmodium nuttallii (Schindl.) B.G.Schub.
  102. Desmodium obtusum (Muhl. ex Willd.) DC.
  103. Desmodium occidentale (C.V.Morton) Standl.
  104. Desmodium ochroleucum M.A.Curtis ex Canby
  105. Desmodium orbiculare Schltdl.
  106. Desmodium orizabanum Hemsl.
  107. Desmodium ospriostreblum Chiov.
  108. Desmodium pachyrhizum Vogel
  109. Desmodium painteri (Rose & Standl.) Standl.
  110. Desmodium pallidum (Rose & J.H.Painter) Standl.
  111. Desmodium palmeri Hemsl.
  112. Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.
  113. Desmodium paraguanae Pittier
  114. Desmodium parkinsonii Hemsl.
  115. Desmodium perplexum B.G.Schub.
  116. Desmodium platycarpum Benth.
  117. Desmodium plectocarpum Hemsl.
  118. Desmodium plicatum Schltdl. & Cham.
  119. Desmodium polygaloides Chodat & Hassl.
  120. Desmodium polystachyum Schltdl.
  121. Desmodium prehensile Schltdl.
  122. Desmodium pringlei S.Watson
  123. Desmodium procumbens (Mill.) C.L.Hitchc.
  124. Desmodium prodigum (Schindl.) Standl.
  125. Desmodium prostratum Brandegee
  126. Desmodium pseudoamplifolium Micheli
  127. Desmodium psilocarpum A.Gray
  128. Desmodium psilophyllum Schltdl.
  129. Desmodium purpusianum (Schindl.) B.G.Schub.
  130. Desmodium purpusii Brandegee
  131. Desmodium raymundoramirezii L.Torres & A.Delgado
  132. Desmodium retinens Schltdl.
  133. Desmodium rhynchodesmum (S.F.Blake) Standl.
  134. Desmodium riedelii (Schindl.) Burkart
  135. Desmodium rosei B.G.Schub.
  136. Desmodium rotundifolium DC.
  137. Desmodium saccatum B.G.Schub.
  138. Desmodium saxatile (C.V.Morton) B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  139. Desmodium scalare B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  140. Desmodium schindleri B.G.Schub.
  141. Desmodium schubertianum Standl. & L.O.Williams
  142. Desmodium schusteri (Schindl.) Standl.
  143. Desmodium sclerophyllum Benth.
  144. Desmodium scopulorum S.Watson
  145. Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.) Poir.
  146. Desmodium scutatum Hemsl.
  147. Desmodium seatonii Greenm.
  148. Desmodium seleri (Schindl.) Standl. & Steyerm.
  149. Desmodium sericeum (Schindl.) Standl.
  150. Desmodium sericocarpum Hemsl.
  151. Desmodium sericophyllum Schltdl.
  152. Desmodium serotinum (Willd.) DC.
  153. Desmodium sessilifolium (Torr. ex M.A.Curtis) Torr. & A.Gray
  154. Desmodium skinneri Benth.
  155. Desmodium strictum (Pursh) DC.
  156. Desmodium subrosum G.L.Nesom
  157. Desmodium subsecundum Vogel
  158. Desmodium subsericeum Malme
  159. Desmodium subsessile Schltdl.
  160. Desmodium subtile Hemsl.
  161. Desmodium sumichrastii (Schindl.) Standl.
  162. Desmodium sylvicola Brandegee
  163. Desmodium tastense Brandegee
  164. Desmodium tenuifolium Torr. & A.Gray
  165. Desmodium tenuipes (S.F.Blake) B.G.Schub.
  166. Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC.
  167. Desmodium triarticulatum Malme
  168. Desmodium tweedyi Britton
  169. Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.
  170. Desmodium urarioides (S.F.Blake) B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  171. Desmodium vargasianum B.G.Schub.
  172. Desmodium venosum Vogel
  173. Desmodium venustum Steud.
  174. Desmodium viridiflorum (L.) DC.
  175. Desmodium volubile (Schindl.) B.G.Schub. & McVaugh
  176. Desmodium weberbaueri (Schindl.) J.F.Macbr.
  177. Desmodium wydlerianum Urb.
  178. Desmodium xylopodium Greenm.
  179. Desmodium yungasense Britton

Beyond the Hitchhiking

While their sticky seeds might be their most well-known feature, Desmodium species offer much more than just a ride. They play crucial ecological roles:

  • Nitrogen fixation: Like many legumes, Desmodium plants have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots. This process enriches the soil, benefiting other plants in the ecosystem.
  • Food source: Their leaves and seeds provide nourishment for a variety of wildlife, including insects, birds, and mammals.
  • Erosion control: Their dense growth habit can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Desmodium also holds promise for human use:

  • Forage: Several species are valuable forage crops for livestock.
  • Medicine: Traditional medicine systems in various cultures utilize Desmodium for its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and liver-protective properties.
  • Green manure and cover crops: Their ability to fix nitrogen and improve soil health makes them beneficial in agriculture.

Exploring the Potential

Research on Desmodium continues to uncover its potential benefits. Scientists are investigating its use in:

  • Phytoremediation: Some species show promise in removing heavy metals from contaminated soil.
  • Pest control: Extracts from certain Desmodium plants have insecticidal properties.
  • Drug development: Researchers are exploring the potential of Desmodium compounds for developing new drugs to treat various ailments.

I’m excited to see what the future holds for Desmodium. As we continue to explore its diversity and potential, this often-overlooked genus may hold the key to solving some of our most pressing challenges in agriculture, medicine, and environmental conservation. So next time you encounter a Desmodium plant, take a moment to appreciate its intricate beauty and the vital role it plays in our world.

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