Flower ID: IMG_5068.JPG-08-23-2020 Flower name (scientific): Desmodium canadense de Candollea PY: 1825. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) des-MOH-dee-um ka-na-DEN-see Flower name (common): Showy Tick-trefoil Family name (common): Pea Family name (scientific): Fabaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek desmos, meaning a band or chain. Referencing the united stamens or the linked segments of the seedpods. Specific epithet: Of or relating to Canada. Common name origin: Referencing the tall and attractive appearance of the plant, and its similarity to other tick-trefoil species. Flower description: Size: 0.3 to 0.5 inches (0.8 to 1.3 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: pink or purple Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 24 to 72 inches (61 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound Size: Leaflets up to about 9 to 14 cm long and up to about 3 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, trifoliolate, leaflet, oblong or lanceolate in overall shape (IL), ovate to lanceolate (MP) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, meadows, along shores, sun or semi-shade, moist to mesic. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The present species is most similar to D. illinoense and D. cuspidatum. Examination of the loment can help in ID. D. canadense has a flat pod with 3 to 5 sections that are slightly curved on the upper side and well-rounded on the lower side, D. illinoense has flat pods with 3 to 9 sections that are rounded on both upper and lower edges, D. cuspidatum has pods with 3 to 7 sections that have an approximate triangular shape. For the latter two species, the primary petiole connecting the compound leaf to the stem is longer than that for D. canadense. D. laevigatum is similar, but a more southern species and not found in Wisconsin. Ethnobotany: No recorded usess by tribes from Wisconsin. The Iroquois employed the roots of this to prepare a gastrointestinal remedy (Moerman, p. 198, 1998). Latitude: 44.795613 Longitude: -91.513157 Altitude: 284.10 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AR, CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Hedysarum canadense Linnaeus in Sp. Pl.: 748 (1753). Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na