| Desmodium canadense | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Desmodium |
| Species: | D. canadense |
| Binomial name | |
| Desmodium canadense | |
| Synonyms | |
Hedysarum canadense | |
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]
