Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick-trefoil)
| Also known as: | Hoary Tick-trefoil, Canada Tick-clover |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Desmodium |
| Family: | Fabaceae (Pea) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; average to moist sandy or rocky soil; prairies, along shores, along roads, railroads, open woods |
| Bloom season: | July - September |
| Plant height: | 2 to 6 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FAC MW: FACU NCNE: FAC |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/showy-tick-trefoil_0719_123737.jpg)
1 or more spike-like racemes, usually densely packed, of stalked flowers at the top of the stem and arising from upper leaf axils. Flowers are pea-shaped, about ½ inch long, pink to purple with 2 yellow spots near the base of the broad upper lobe. The stamens and pistil form a curving tube that protrudes from the center, between the 2 lateral petals. The calyx behind the flower and the short flower stalk are reddish green and hairy.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/showy-tick-trefoil_0719_123800.jpg)
Leaves are compound in 3s, alternately attached. Leaflets are hairy, more densely hairy along major veins on the underside, to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide with a rounded or slightly tapering base and blunt point at the tip. The 2 lateral leaflets are short-stalked to nearly stalkless, the end leaflet longer stalked. Stalks are hairy. The compound leaf stalk is up to about ¾ inch long, usually shorter than the stalk of the terminal leaflet, though the lowest leaves may be longer stalked.
![[photo of leaf stalk, stipules and stem]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/desmodium-canadense-7543897-8.jpg)
At the base of the leaf stalk is a pair of leafy appendages (stipules) that are linear to narrowly awl-shaped and up to about 1/3 inch long. Stems are unbranched except in the flower clusters, ridged, rough with spreading hairs, and erect to ascending or sometimes sprawling. Some hairs may have tiny hooks at the tip (magnification required to see) but most are straight.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/desmodium-canadensis-72099-4.jpg)
Fruit is a flat pod 1 to 2½ inches long with 3 to 5 sections, the sections convex on the upper edge and well rounded on the lower, and each containing a single seed.
![[photo of seed]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/desmodium-canadense-151.jpg)
Seeds are kidney-shaped, about 4 mm long, and mature to brown. The pod is densely covered in tiny hooked hairs that latch onto anything that passes by.
Notes:
Showy Tick-trefoil tends to grow in clumps. The leaves and flowers are most similar to the related Illinois Tick-trefoil (Desmodium illinoense) and Large-bract Tick-trefoil (Desmodium cuspidatum), both of which have more loosely arranged flower clusters, compound leaf stalks that are much longer than the terminal leaflet stalk, and larger, more prominent stipules. D. illinoense also typically has a single raceme and its pod segments are well rounded on both edges; D. cuspidatum leaves are more evenly hairy on the lower surface, only slightly more dense on the major veins, and pod segments are more triangular.
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More photos
Showy Tick-trefoil plants
Showy Tick-trefoil plants
Showy Tick-trefoil plants
leaf hairs more dense on major veins
leaf scan
close-up of flowers
comparison of Desmodium canadense, D. cuspidatum, D. illinoense leaves
comparison of Desmodium canadense, D. cuspidatum, D. illinoense fruit
Showy Tick-trefoil plants
Showy Tick-trefoil plants
Showy Tick-trefoil plants
leaf hairs more dense on major veins
leaf scan
close-up of flowers
comparison of Desmodium canadense, D. cuspidatum, D. illinoense leaves
comparison of Desmodium canadense, D. cuspidatum, D. illinoense fruitPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Wild River State Park, Chisago County, and in Ramsey County. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-08-09 12:37:17
These grow abundantly in Kanabec County.
on: 2010-07-26 09:26:45
This plant grows in clumps in our front yard. We mow around it because we like the flowers and unlike the pointed leaf tick-trefoil, the blossoms don't turn into snags.
on: 2010-07-26 13:14:53
There is a prairie remnant near me that has a fair amount of showy tick-trefoil in it. If I go through there in late summer, when I come out my clothes are just plastered with its pods. It is worse than pointed leaf tick-trefoil, I think. :-) I carefully pluck the pods from my clothes and save them, to be replanted elsewhere.
on: 2010-07-29 20:23:48
North of Baxter on Hwy 371. Very abundant and beautiful.
on: 2010-08-21 15:14:19
Several (mostly shady) locations in Oakdale Nature Preserve. Seen blooming in late July-early August 2010.
on: 2010-08-30 22:33:51
Edenbrook Conservation Area in Eden Prairie has a good number of these. Have also seen a few on Jim's Prairie, Maplewood.
on: 2013-07-17 21:07:51
Birch Coulee County Park
on: 2013-07-18 13:43:06
It was in a ditch by the road in a pretty sunny location. First time seeing it. They're not too common in this area but it was a rather beautiful plant. The plant was about 3' tall.
on: 2014-07-21 13:33:48
Plant found in very large abundance (1+ acre) southwest of Marshall on native prairie site.
on: 2014-08-20 15:44:33
Keep STT to a minimum (less than .01 lb./Acre). My mix was .03 and it crowded out other natives and is now quite dominant. Bumblebees, native bees like it. Keep it spotty and you'll be happy. Better yet, don't plant anything with the word "Trefoil" in it.
on: 2015-07-19 13:59:50
Just noticed growing in ditch in standing water this summer. Ditch is routinely mowed and baled by local farmer. Was just mowed 2 days ago but did not mow this section due to standing water.
on: 2015-08-22 09:32:52
Found on a guided tour of this area on 8-8-15.
on: 2017-07-23 11:36:54
I stopped mowing a part of our shoreline on an island on Big Sandy Lake this summer, and this plant showed up in abundance. We'd never seen it before, and were happy to discover it has pretty purple flowers. Nice foliage too.
on: 2018-07-20 20:19:43
A clump is growing on Old North Shore Road in Larsmont. Never seen it there before and I have walked the road "flowering" many times over the last 10 or so years. Must have somehow jumped from St. Louis to Lake County.
on: 2020-08-16 17:00:41
Used a plant identifying app on a pretty big bunch of flowers along a trail and was surprised to find it is a native with a somewhat ugly name. Now I need to figure out how to get some to plant in my lot.
on: 2024-07-10 19:47:47
Found 1 plant in a developed pollinator area.
According to following quote, it would seem to be recommended.
"According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Pollinators, showy tick trefoil is especially valuable to bumblebees"
"Showy tick trefoil also attracts miner bees, leaf-cutting bees, and some short-tongued bees Butterflies"
"Showy tick trefoil is a host plant for the Eastern Tailed Blue, Gray Hairstreak, and Silver-Spotted Skipper butterflies"
"Showy tick trefoil also attracts moths and skippers "