Desmodium canadense is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to eastern North America. Its common names include showy tick-trefoil, Canadian tick-trefoil,[1] and Canada tickclover.[2]

Desmodium canadense

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Desmodium
Species:
D. canadense
Binomial name
Desmodium canadense
Synonyms

Hedysarum canadense
Meibomia canadensis

The plant is a perennial herb and grows in woods, prairies, and disturbed habitat, such as roadsides. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a larval host plant for butterflies such as the eastern tailed-blue, silver-spotted skipper, and hoary edge. The plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.[3] Flowers are pea-shaped, pink to purple in color, and bloom between July and September.[4]

Desmodium canadense is being investigated as a possible source of bean pod mottle virus in soybean plants. As a carrier of the virus, it may be passing it to the bean leaf beetle, which is passing it in turn to soybean crops.[5] This virus causes severe systemic mottling and mild leaf puckering.[6] This can reduce seed size and pod set, which causes a decrease in crop yields.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Desmodium canadense". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. ^ Desmodium canadense. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  3. ^ Desmodium canadense. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. University of Texas, Austin.
  4. ^ "Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick-trefoil): Minnesota Wildflowers". www.minnesotawildflowers.info. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  5. ^ Krell, Rayda Kathryn (2002). Bean pod mottle virus ecology and management in Iowa (Thesis). ProQuest 305571983
  6. ^ Hopkins, John D.; Mueller, A. J. (1983-10-01). "Distribution of Bean Pod Mottle Virus in Arkansas Soybean as Related to the Bean Leaf Beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata , (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Population 1". Environmental Entomology. 12 (5): 1564–1567. doi:10.1093/ee/12.5.1564. ISSN 1938-2936.
  7. ^ "Bean Leaf Beetle | Integrated Crop Management". crops.extension.iastate.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
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