Wild Peas

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wild Peas
• kaimi-clover
• Spanish clover
• creeping beggarweed
• kaimi clover

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Meibomia mauritiana
• Meibomia adscendens var. incana
• Pleurolobus spicatus
• Desmodium variifolium
• Desmodium supinum
• Desmodium portoricense
• Hedysarum portoricense
• Hedysarum racemosum
• Hedysarum incanum
• Hedysarum madagascariense
• Hedysarum conjunctum
• Desmodium incanum f. minor
• Desmodium incanum f. obovatifolium
• Desmodium lindleyi
• Desmodium frutescens
• Desmodium tenue
• Aeschynomene spicata
• Meibomia ovalis
• Meibomia incana
• Hedysarum mauritianum
• Desmodium incanum var. supinum
• Meibomia diversifolia
• Hedysarum diversifolium
• Desmodium mauritianum
• Meibomia cana
• Desmodium ancistrocarpum
• Desmodium canum
• Hedysarum canum
• Desmodium diversifolium
• Meibomia variifolia
• Desmodium sparsiflorum
• Hedysarum ancistrocarpum
• Meibomia supina

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Desmodium. As a member of the genus Desmodium, Desmodium incanum represents a specific medicinal species within this diverse botanical lineage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several countries within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the nation of Guinea. Additionally, its presence extends to the Ivory Coast and Liberia. The species is also documented within the borders of Mali. Finally, its geographical range includes the territory of Sierra Leone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Desmodium incanum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a diverse array of ecosystems, ranging from highly disturbed anthropogenic areas to pristine natural landscapes. It exhibits a broad environmental tolerance, thriving in various biomes and habitats including Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Campo Rupestre, Restinga, Manguezal, and Palmeiral, as well as multiple forest types such as Floresta Ciliar or Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual, and Floresta Ombrófila (Pluvial). This versatility allows the species to colonize both coastal environments and inland forested regions. In terms of vertical distribution, the species occupies a wide altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2200 m AMSL, with an average elevational range centered around 500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Manguezal, Palmeiral, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Desmodium incanum are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that defines its cytogenetic profile. The plant possesses a chromosome number of 22, which serves as a fundamental basis for its cellular reproduction and hereditary stability. Furthermore, the species exhibits a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that it maintains two complete sets of chromosomes within its somatic cells. This genomic structure provides the necessary biological framework for the inheritance of various phenotypic traits and biochemical properties inherent to the species.

Chromosome number :

22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Desmodium incanum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its growth habit and structural strategy, the species is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form defined by having its perennating buds located close to the soil surface, often just above it. This specific life form, consistent across its morphological classifications, enables the plant to survive various environmental pressures by maintaining its regenerative capacity near the ground level.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Desmodium incanum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant, which functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, exhibits an ascending shoot orientation. It is a self-supporting species, rather than a liana or vine, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.2 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Desmodium incanum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate and tropical legumes. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage, lacking specialized water-storage tissues within its leaves. Morphologically, its leaf dimensions vary significantly, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 9 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 4.5 cm, defining the structural parameters of its photosynthetic surface area.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Desmodium incanum is characterized by its distinctive flowering and fruiting structures. The plant produces inflorescences that vary in length, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.12 m, featuring flowers that are pink in color. The reproductive output culminates in the formation of pods, which serve as the fruit type. These pods are dehiscent and exhibit specific dimensions, with a fruit length ranging from 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm and a maximum width of 0.3 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are quite small, possessing a mean seed mass of 0.000974 g. Dispersal of the species is facilitated through multiple syndromes, primarily functioning as zoochorous, while also being subject to anthropochorous dispersal mechanisms.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Seed mass mean:

0.000974 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Desmodium incanum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.

Antimicrobial

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Desmodium incanum has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous extracts, hydroethanolic extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Hydroethanolic extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)