Species Detail Forb

Flowers		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Desmodium metcalfei - Metcalfe's ticktrefoil Synonyms: Meibomia metcalfei Other Common Names: Metcalfe's tick trefoil Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Fabaceae
Flowers


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Leaves Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Plant Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Perennial Similar Species: Phaseolus angustissimus
General Desc: Erect plant with trifoliate leaves and a pink pea-like flower. Somewhat uncommon.
Identification notes: Erect stems distinguish this species from Phaseolus angustissimus, which has twining or trailing stems.
Height: 1 to 3-1/3 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Rocky slopes and canyons in grasslands, oak/piÃ±on-juniper woodlands and riparian forests.
Plant Communities: Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest, Riparian
Elevation: 4000 - 6500 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Pink, blue or purple Shape: Irregular in elongated clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: Aug - Oct
Description: Has a pea-like flower with a banner petal, 2 wing petals and 2 fused keel petals. Has 9 united stamens and 1 single stamen.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Compound Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves are trifoliate. Leaflets 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 inches long; generally less than 1/2 inch wide; 4 to 5 times longer than wide with the terminal leaflet longest.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Brown
Fruit Type: Pod
Fruit Notes: Pods somewhat constricted between seeds with 2 to 5 segments per pod, sometimes twisted. Rounded teeth on upper margin, moderately notched below. Surface has fine, stiff, hooked hairs.
Seed Notes: 3 to 10 seeds per pod. Seeds are ovoid to rounded in outline; kidney-shaped. Seed surface smooth. Seeds olive, brown or black.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer