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Desmodium uncinatum
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu
Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu
Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | Silverleaf (English) Silverleaf desmodium (English) Velcro plant (English) |
| Frequency: | Common |
| Status: | Introduced |
| Description: |
Prostrate or sprawling perennial, Stems, leaves (and articles) covered in dense hooked hairs readily adhering to clothing. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate, acute to acuminate at apex, with a broad whitish marking centred on the main vein on the upper surface; petiole 1-5 cm; rhachis 0.5-1.5 cm. Inflorescences mostly terminal, 10-40 cm. Standard purple, fading to blue-green. Fruits constricted between the 3-8 articles; articles 3-7 × 3-4 mm. |
| Notes: | Almost all parts of the plant bear hooked hairs and will readily adhere to clothing. |
| Derivation of specific name: | uncinatum: bearing hooks, referring to the indumentum of the stems and pods. |
| Habitat: | Widely introduced into the tropics as a pasture legume and is now often found as an invasive escape along roadsides, at the edges of woodland or riverine vegetation and even in built-up areas. |
| Altitude range: | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native of South America. |
| Malawi distribution: | N,C,S |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Monday 24 June 2019 |
| Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 13. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 48. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 98. Verdcourt, B. (2000). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(6) Page 10. |
Other sources of information about Desmodium uncinatum:
Our websites:
Flora of Mozambique: Desmodium uncinatumFlora of Zambia: Desmodium uncinatum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Desmodium uncinatum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Desmodium uncinatum
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Desmodium uncinatumAfrican Plant Database: Desmodium uncinatum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Desmodium uncinatum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Desmodium uncinatum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Desmodium uncinatum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Desmodium uncinatum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Desmodium uncinatum
JSTOR Plant Science: Desmodium uncinatum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Desmodium uncinatum
Plants of the World Online: Desmodium uncinatum
Tropicos: Desmodium uncinatum
Wikipedia: Desmodium uncinatum
| Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Desmodium | > | uncinatum |