pointed-leaved tick-trefoil

(Hylodesmum glutinosum)

Conservation Status
pointed-leaved tick-trefoil
Photo by Kirk Nelson
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5? - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The leaf is divided into three broadly oval leaflets that taper to a distinct long point. The leaves are clustered at one point beneath the inflorescence, making them appear whorled.

The inflorescence is at the tip of a long stalk at the end of the stem.

The fruit/seed pod is usually divided into 2 or 3 rounded, triangular segments, sometimes 1, sometimes 4.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

24 to 60, usually 36 or less

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Pink to pale purple, or white

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  Bare-stemmed tick trefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum) inflorescence is on a long, leafless stalk rising from the ground.  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Moist to moderately dry. Woodland paths, railways, roadways. Rich soil. Partial sun to medium shade.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

July to August

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  3/22/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Rosanae  
 

Order

Fabales (legumes, milkworts, and allies)  
 

Family

Fabaceae (legumes)  
  Subfamily Faboideae  
  Tribe Desmodieae  
  Subtribe Desmodiinae  
  Genus Hylodesmum  
       
 

This species was formerly classified as Desmodium glutinosum. A recent redescription of section (or subgenus) Podocarpium of the genus Desmodium (Ohashi and Mill, 2000) proposed moving fourteen species in the Podocarpium section to a new genus Hylodesmum. Most of the species occur in China, but three occur in North America. The proposal was widely but not universally accepted. ITIS and USDA PLANTS continue to use the name Desmodium glutinosum.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Desmodium acuminatum

Meibomia acuminata

Meibomia grandiflora

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

cluster-leaf tick-trefoil

largeflower tickclover

pointed-leaved tick-trefoil

pointedleaf ticktrefoil

trefoil tickclover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Kirk Nelson

 
 

Plant

 
    pointed-leaved tick-trefoil      
           
 

Flower close-up

 
    pointed-leaved tick-trefoil      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Plant

 
    pointed-leaved tick-trefoil      
           
 

Leaves

 
    pointed-leaved tick-trefoil   pointed-leaved tick-trefoil  
           
 

Leaf

 
    pointed-leaved tick-trefoil      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
     
     
     

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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  Kirk Nelson
7/4/2016

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Fairly abundant. I learned that this plant produces seed pods that stick to your clothes

pointed-leaved tick-trefoil  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Afton State Park

Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit

Banning State Park

Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park

Camden State Park

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

Carver Park Reserve

Cedar Mountain SNA

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

Crystal Spring SNA

Englund Ecotone SNA

Falls Creek SNA

Flandrau State Park

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Franconia Bluffs SNA

Frontenac State Park

Glacial Lakes State Park

Glendalough State Park

Great River Bluffs State Park

Greenwater Lake SNA

Hardscrabble Woods / MG Tusler Sanctuary

Hastings SNA

Hyland Lake Park Reserve

Itasca State Park

John Peter Hoffman Spring Brook Valley WMA

Kilen Woods State Park

King’s and Queen’s Bluff SNA

Lake Alexander Woods SNA, South Unit

Lake Carlos State Park

Lake Elmo Park Reserve

Lake Louise State Park

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Leif Mountain

Lester Lake SNA

Maplewood State Park

Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Mille Lacs Moraine SNA

Monson Lake State Park

Mound Prairie SNA

Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Rengstorf Unit

Ordway Prairie

Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo

Pin Oak Prairie SNA

Pine Bend Bluffs SNA

Prairie Bush Clover SNA

Quarry Park SNA

Regal Meadow

Rice Lake Savanna SNA

Rice Lake State Park

Ripley Esker SNA

Rushford Sand Barrens SNA

St. Croix Savanna SNA

St. Croix State Park

Savage Fen SNA

Savanna Portage State Park

Seven Springs WMA

Sibley State Park

Spring Creek Prairie SNA

Spring Lake Park Reserve

Uncas Dunes SNA

Vermillion River WMA

Whitetail Woods Regional Park

Wild River State Park

 

 

 

Binoculars


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