Nuttall's Ticktrefoil (Desmodium nuttallii)

On a well-drained ridgeside at a dense mixed forest edge. ID Tentative.

comments (16)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

The plant app I use definitely suggests Desmodium sp., with several species suggestions from that genus.
Strongest match is D. incanum, followed by D. canadense, and then 5 more. It does not list D. canescens.

But that doesn't mean that much, take it with a grain of salt. Posted 5 years ago
1. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  I've keyed it out to 4-5 species (which do not include the ones you listed). I'm positive of genus level, but I'm working on species-level right now. I'm honestly between two species that are both fairly pubescent (hairy/furry) like this one. D. canescens and D. cuspidatum var. longifolium
  
  D. incanum seems to be introduced on the Gulf coast, but it isn't anywhere this far North. Also, it is a trailing species. This one is erect.
  D. canadense has a more northerly distribution to my knowledge. Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
2. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  You can check out this detailed key for the Southeastern US here:
  http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/FloraArchives/WeakleyFlora_2015-05-29.pdf
  
  Also, additional photos of this plant here:
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33329065
  Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
3. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, I'd suggest to see my input as only a confirmation that the genus is correct, as for species, it's very difficult to nail it down and I'd put more trust in your own search skills. For example, the app has no idea about location. Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
      
      Lion
      
      I appreciate you checking! I hope I didn't seem rude! <3 I've just been pondering over this one for a couple of hours haha! Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Now that my tears dried up, I've moved to a state of acceptance.
        
        No of course it's not rude. The app is imprecise, it cannot replace intuition, search skills, combining pieces of data you have that the app does not have, and so on. It's a starting point, that's all.
        
        Plus, I suggest to never "walk on egg shells" for dismissing the input of others. You didn't even dismiss anything but you're so nice and considerate that the implication already worried you. Nothing wrong with that but in my opinion, ultimately the best ID should win based on superior data and logic.
        
        If that means somebody else was wrong, so what? It's not an offense to be wrong when presented with superior information. It's a joy. If you believe in the scientific process that is :) Posted 5 years ago
      2. Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        Bahaha! This is cracking me up.
        I guess I sometimes get so driven in my search for IDs that I forget to mind the more fragile egos. :) I don't like hurting feelings, so I try to be mindful! I've been on the receiving end of some tactless corrections, and I don't want to be THAT kind of person. Posted 5 years ago
    3. Flown Kimmerling
      
      Lion
      
      1 of my botanist friends agrees with my ID! Hoping for some more input, so I will change the ID if I am corrected. Posted 5 years ago
    4. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Great! Posted 5 years ago
      2. Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        Looks like this is likely something else altogether! I'm waiting on the fruit to come in to confirm an ID! Posted 5 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Oh really? How do you know it's something else, just curious... Posted 5 years ago
        
        Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        One of the regional experts (and founder of the Southern Grasslands Initiative) pointed me in the right direction. He is wanting more photos as this might be a more rare species. Same goes for my recent post here:
        
        Posted 5 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Love it how you never let go in the chase of an ID. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        I'm not a perfectionist at all ;) Posted 5 years ago
        
        Flown Kimmerling
        
        Lion
        
        ID confirmation from both Dwayne Estes and Alan Weakley (the creator of that gigantic key I linked above). Posted 5 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Nice, thanks for following up! Posted 5 years ago