Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Desmodium grahamii Gray
(Graham Tick-Clover, Graham's Tick-Trefoil)


Family: Fabaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Meibomia grahamii (Gray) Kuntze

Desmodium grahamii is a spreading viney plant with sticky stems. The members of Desmodium have constrictions between the chambers of the fruit which is called a loment. The three leaflets of Desmodium grahamii are ovate and broad. The flowers, present in elongate racemes, are pink when fresh, turning purple with age. Desmodium grahamii is found on middle elevation slopes, sometimes becoming a groundcover in forest clearings.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Desmodium grahamii, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, Gomez Peak, Aug. 30, 2007



Desmodium grahamii, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, August 8, 2010



Desmodium grahamii, closeup of loment, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, August 8, 2010



Desmodium grahamii, forming groundcover, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, August 8, 2010


Back to the Index