Species Detail Forb

Flower Highlands Center for Natural History - Sue Smith		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Desmodium neomexicanum - New Mexico ticktrefoil Synonyms: Meibomia neomexicana Other Common Names: tick clover, New Mexico tickclover, (Spanish: hierbita del amor) Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Fabaceae
Flower Highlands Center for Natural History - Sue Smith


Home	Plant Communities	Plant List	Search Forbs and Subshrubs	Search Grasses	Search Woody Plants	Additional Resources	About this Website

Click on Any Image for a Larger View
Leaf Highlands Center for Natural History Sue Smith	Plant - summer Highlands Center for Natural History Sue Smith	Fruit Highlands Center for Natural History Sue Smith	Fruit Highlands Center for Natural History Sue Smith

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Annual Similar Species: Desmodium rosei
General Desc: Stems grow erect or curve upward. Stems are solid and sparsely to densely covered with curved hairs or prickles.
Identification notes: Fruit pods of 2 - 5 rounded segments and usually contorted unlike D. rosei. The terminal segment is often hairless and not contorted.
Height: 8 inches

Habitat

Habitat Description: Found on grassy slopes and mesas.
Plant Communities: Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland
Elevation: 3500 - 6000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Pink to Purple Shape: Irregular in elongated clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: Aug - Sep
Description: Bracts very small or absent. Flowers are bilaterally symetrical in one plain. The calyx is 2-lipped or 2-lobed and hairy. Petals are separate and clawed. Corolla is butterfly-like and ovoid.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Compound Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems Spines: Y
Leaf Description: Lower leaves are often trifoliolate with leaflets that are long and narrow. The upper leaves are also longer than wide but may have only one leaflet. Leaflets are opposite.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Brown
Fruit Type: Pod
Fruit Notes: Fruits appear as 2 to 5 rounded segments each no more than 1/8 of an inch long. Drier pods appear contorted. The terminal segment is often hairless and not contorted. The other segments are uniformily hooked and hairless. Color from green to brown.
Seed Notes: Seed surface is smooth. Seeds are olive, brown, or black.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer