Naked-flowered Tick-Trefoil

Desmodium nudiflorum

This member of the pea family sends up separate stems for leaves and flowers.  The former are 1 foot or less in height and hold compound leaves of three leaflets on a stem or petiole; each leaflet is about 3 inches long, 2 inches wide, smooth-edged, usually pointed at the tip, and has prominent veins diverging from the central vein.

The separate flowering stem has no leaves--hence the plant's name--and is up to 3 feet long, often arching, and produces small pea-like pink flowers along its length from buds on short petioles.

1-3 feet, partial shade-shade.

Summer (July-August).

  The leaves in clusters of 3, on separate stems near the base of the plant.

7 July 2020.

Naked-flowered Tick-Trefoil, 7 July 2020.