beggar-lice

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• beggar-lice
• green-leaf desmodium
• green-leaf tick trefoil
• Greenleaf Ticktrefoil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hedysarum trigonum
• Hedysarum aparines
• Hedysarum intortum
• Desmodium nantouensis
• Meibomia adhaesiva
• Meibomia trigona
• Meibomia aparines
• Desmodium intortum var. apiculatum
• Meibomia intorta
• Meibomia balaensis
• Desmodium adhaesivum
• Desmodium sonorae
• Desmodium trigonum
• Meibomia sonorae

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Desmodium intortum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Desmodium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found in both Cameroon and Rwanda. The plant also extends into East Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the landscapes of Kenya. Finally, its range continues through East Tropical Africa to include the territory of Uganda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Desmodium intortum is characterized by its presence within forest habitats, where it thrives under the specific environmental conditions provided by these ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, capable of colonizing diverse landscapes ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 3000 m AMSL. This expansive elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying temperature gradients and atmospheric pressures found from lowland forest floors to high-altitude montane environments.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Genetics

The genetics of Desmodium intortum are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that plays a critical role in its evolutionary and reproductive biology. Scientific analysis of the species reveals a variation in its karyotype, specifically demonstrating chromosome numbers of 22 and 24. This variation in chromosome number suggests a complex cytogenetic landscape, which may be indicative of polyploidy, chromosomal rearrangements, or hybridization processes within the lineage. Such genetic diversity in the chromosome count is a significant factor in determining the plant's genomic stability and its capacity for adaptation to varying environmental pressures.

Chromosome number :

22, 24

Life history

The life history of Desmodium intortum is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial species depending on environmental conditions and specific regional ecological niches. As a member of the Fabaceae family, its life cycle begins with seed germination, often triggered by seasonal moisture shifts, leading to the development of a spreading or climbing habit. Throughout its growth phases, the plant focuses on vegetative expansion through its stem structure before transitioning into its reproductive stage, where it produces characteristic inflorescences. The duration of its existence in a single location is flexible; while it may complete its cycle within a single year in more transient habitats, it possesses the capacity to persist across multiple seasons, allowing it to establish a more permanent presence in stable ecosystems.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Desmodium intortum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, exhibiting a self-supporting habit rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative climber or liana. It functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies and is primarily terrestrial in its ecological niche, although it can inhabit semiaquatic or aquatic environments. The plant typically maintains a relatively low stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic qualities, such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, and instead develops as a self-supporting, non-woody herbaceous structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Desmodium intortum is characterized by its efficient metabolic processes and specific leaf morphology optimized for its environmental niche. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation strategy and typical water-use efficiency within its habitat. Morphologically, its foliage displays significant variation in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. This variation is accompanied by a corresponding range in leaf width, which fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 6 cm, contributing to the overall surface area available for light interception and gas exchange.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Desmodium intortum is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures that facilitate seed dispersal. The plant produces fruit in the form of a pod, which serves as the primary vessel for its offspring. These pods exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm. In terms of thickness, the fruit maintains a relatively slender profile, reaching a maximum width of 0.3 cm. The reproductive process concludes with a dehiscence mechanism, meaning the fruit is dehiscent and splits open at maturity to release the seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Desmodium intortum has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CT, Condensed Tannins, Tannin.

CT

1. The British journal of nutrition

Condensed Tannins

1. The British journal of nutrition

Tannin

1. The British journal of nutrition

Preparations

Desmodium intortum has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hay.

Hay

1. The British journal of nutrition