Creeping Beggarweed (or Beggartick), Spanish-Clover, Tick-Trefoil, Hitchhikers

Desmodium incanum

des-MOH-dee-um  in-KAN-num

Fabaceae

Native to:  Central and South America

Florida abundance and distribution: Found throughout Florida, and in Texas, Georgia, Puerto Rico, Hawaii & Virgin Islands.

Recognition: Erect or prostrate perennial or low shrub with trifoliate elliptical to oblong leaves.  Terminal leaflet longer than the lateral leaflets, dark green in color with a silver stripe along the center vein. Flowers in terminal or axillary raceme, pink to purple (mauve) in color. The pod jointed, kidney shaped.  When mature at the slightest touch the pod segments attach themselves to anything that passes by, using tiny hooked hairs.  The entire plant has the hooked hairs, very pubescent.

Potentially confused species:   In D. tortuosum (Dixie Ticktrefoil/Beggarweed, Florida Beggarweed) the leaflets are ovate to oblong with flowers bluish-green or pink, the leaves lacking the central silverfish marking.  In D. triflorum (Three-Flowered Beggarweed) the leaflets are obovate to obcordate, can have a notch (emarginated), with pink to purple flowers.  D. triflorum is more of a ground cover.  It lacks the silverfish markings on the leaflets.

Other:  These three are often confused that some of the common names are interchangeable.

Contributed by: Andrea Schechter.   Photo:  Tau’olunga