Desmodium_canadense
Desmodium canadense
Species of legume
Desmodium canadense is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to eastern North America. Its common names include showy tick-trefoil, Canadian tick-trefoil,[1] and Canada tickclover.[2]
The plant is a perennial herb and grows in woods, prairies, and disturbed habitat, such as roadsides. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a larval host plant for butterflies such as the eastern tailed-blue, silver-spotted skipper, and hoary edge. The plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.[3] Flowers are pea-shaped, pink to purple in color, and bloom between July and September.[4]
Desmodium canadense is being investigated as a possible source of bean pod mottle virus in soybean plants. As a carrier of the virus, it may be passing it to the bean leaf beetle, which is passing it in turn to soybean crops.[5] This virus causes severe systemic mottling and mild leaf puckering.[6] This can reduce seed size and pod set, which causes a decrease in crop yields.[7]
