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Desmodium tortuosum

(Sw.) DC. (1825)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Desmodium

Florida beggarweed

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect herbs or subshrubs 5–20 dm tall.

Stems: Stems hooked pubescent.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (trifoliolate). Alternate. Leaflets elliptic to ovate, terminal one 3–10 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide. Apex obtuse to acute. Base cuneate to obtuse. Surfaces appressed pubescent with minute hooked hairs. Leaflet margins entire. Petioles 1–5 cm long. Stipules dry and membranous, distinct. Leaflets stipellate.

Flowers: Flowers numerous in open, racemose inflorescences 3–8 cm long, occasionally these grouped into diffuse, paniculate inflorescences up to 25 cm long, rachis densely glandular pilose, less so with age, and puberulent with hooked hairs. Flowers papilionaceous; pedicels slender, 10–15 mm long, borne at base of calyx. Calyx campanulate. Corolla pink to bluish purple, 5–6 mm long, exceeding the calyx, wings oblong, keel petals. Stamens 10. Ovary superior.

Fruit: Pods stipitate; (3–)5–7–jointed; (1.5–)2–3 cm long; pubescent with hooked hairs; articles usually orbicular to broadly elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 3–3.5 mm wide. Seeds compressed.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat: Common in pastures; dry; disturbed areas near the coast; open; disturbed wet forest; and along roadsides.

Elevation Range: 20–670 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Potentially naturalizing
Lana'i Potentially naturalizing
Kaho'olawe Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • 20-670 m
  • Description digitized by Dylan Charter
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • First eollected on Maui in 1913 (Collector unknown s.n., BISH).-PIote 90.
  • This species is characteristic in having long, ascending to spreading pedicels in fruit. The articles are distinctively twisted alternately along the margins when young.

Bibliography

Name Published In: Prodr. 2: 332 (1825)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:669 (K, O, M, Ka, H); Hughes 1995:5 (Mo); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:181 (KEY)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
2 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
3 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
4 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
5 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
6 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
7 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
8 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
9 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
10 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
11 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
12 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
13 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
14 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
15 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
16 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
17 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
18 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
19 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
20 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
21 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
22 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
23 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
24 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
25 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
26 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
27 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
28 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
29 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
30 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
31 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
32 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
33 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
34 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
35 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
36 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
37 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
38 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
39 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
40 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
41 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
42 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
43 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
44 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
45 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
46 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
47 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
48 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
49 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
50 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
51 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
52 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
53 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
54 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
55 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
56 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
57 Desmodium tortuosum Alakai Swamp Trail, Kauai County, HI, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
58 Desmodium tortuosum Pu'uhonua O H????naunau National Historical Park, Honaunau, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
59 Desmodium tortuosum Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/21/2007
60 Desmodium tortuosum Orchids of Olinda, Makawao, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/17/2007
61 Desmodium tortuosum 11-3982 Liona St, Volcano, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
62 Desmodium tortuosum Pa'ia, Maui, Hawai'i, USA OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 10/18/2007
63 Desmodium tortuosum Hawai????i, Hilo, HI, US OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Hawaii HAPI 3/18/2007
64 Desmodium tortuosum Kauai OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 10/18/2007
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