Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Desmodium | > | uncinatum |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Silverleaf (English) Silverleaf desmodium (English) Velcro plant (English) |
Frequency: | Frequent |
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: (metres) | 700 - 1630 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native of South America. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 1 January 2007 |
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. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Desmodium | > | uncinatum |