Dixie Ticktrefoil

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dixie Ticktrefoil
• Florida beggarweed
• beggarweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Meibomia purpurea
• Meibomia tortuosa
• Meibomia physocarpa
• Desmodium pulcherrimum
• Desmodium tortuosum var. hirtellum
• Desmodium physocarpos
• Meibomia stipulacea
• Hedysarum tortuosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling into the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Desmodium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several distinct regions. Within the Macaronesia archipelago, it can be found in Cape Verde. Its presence extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the nation of Benin. Furthermore, the species is documented throughout Burkina and Gambia. Finally, its range includes the coastal territories of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Desmodium tortuosum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse ecosystems and a broad altitudinal distribution. This species can be found across a wide variety of habitats, ranging from anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) to specialized natural formations such as the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campo Limpo, Carrasco, and the Cerrado (lato sensu). Its ecological presence extends into more humid environments, including gallery or riparian forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), seasonal semi-deciduous forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual), and ombrophilous forests (Floresta Ombrófila), as well as coastal restinga ecosystems and vegetation situated over rocky outcrops (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos). In terms of vertical distribution, the plant exhibits significant elevational plasticity, occurring from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Genetics

The genetics of Desmodium tortuosum are characterized by a specific karyotypic configuration, most notably defined by its chromosome number. The species possesses a diploid chromosomal makeup of 22, a fundamental genomic feature that underlies its reproductive biology and evolutionary lineage within the Fabaceae family. This chromosomal count serves as a critical genetic marker for distinguishing the species from closely related taxa and plays a vital role in determining its patterns of inheritance, meiotic stability, and potential for polyploidization. Such genetic stability within its 22 chromosomes provides the structural framework for the plant's phenotypic expression and its ability to adapt to diverse ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

22

Life history

The life history of Desmodium tortuosum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological life form, it exhibits characteristics of both a therophyte and a chamaephyte, indicating diverse survival strategies within its habitat. As a therophyte, it possesses the ability to complete its development via seeds, often retreating to a dormant state to survive unfavorable conditions, while its classification as a chamaephyte suggests that its buds are located near or just above the soil surface, providing resilience against environmental stressors.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Desmodium tortuosum is characterized by a growth form that functions as a subshrub or herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. It is a terrestrial plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence in its habitat. In terms of stature, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine, with a height that varies significantly, ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 2 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 2.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

2.1 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Desmodium tortuosum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific foliar dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while leaf widths vary between 1.5 cm and 5 cm. It does not possess succulence, indicating a standard leaf structure without specialized water-storage tissues. Furthermore, a key physiological feature of this species is its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form through symbiotic relationships, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake capabilities.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Desmodium tortuosum is characterized by the production of specialized fruit structures and specific dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces fruit in the form of a pod, which is a dehiscent type, meaning it splits open at maturity to release its contents. These pods vary in size, with a length ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, and a width that fluctuates between 0.3 cm and 0.35 cm. Within these pods, the seeds are quite small, exhibiting a mean mass of approximately 0.002553357 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00227 g to a maximum of 0.00375 g. Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds or fruits are dispersed by animals, which facilitates the expansion of the species across its habitat.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.35 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00375 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002553357 g

Seed mass min:

0.00227 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Desmodium tortuosum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Carotenoids, Flavonoids.

Carotenoids

1. Nutrients

Flavonoids

1. Nutrients

Activities

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

Antioxidant

1. Nutrients

Conditions

Desmodium tortuosum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress

1. Nutrients

Preparations

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

Extract

1. Nutrients