OPEN WOODS 317 



The leaves crowd the top of the stem (none below), and the 

 raceme of flowers rises above them. Leaflets 4 to 5 inches 

 long, broad, pointed. 



Range, from Canada to Florida. 



25 



D. rotundifhiium has round leaflets. The racemes of deep 

 purple flowers appear with the leaves in the axils and on the 

 ends of the branches. Stems prostrate and softly hairy. Both 

 margins of the pod are scalloped. 



26 



Z>. cuspidatimi is ascending, with straight stems. Leaflets 

 4 or 5 inches long, lance-shaped, pointed, with large stipules 

 and bracts. Pod with several long joints. 



27 



D. DiUenii has smaller, thin leaflets. The plant is tall, with 

 small bracts and stipules. Pod with few joints, 3 to 5. 



28 



D. paniailatum has numerous drooping panicles of flowers 

 on tall, straight stems. Leaflets thin, narrow, oblong to lance- 

 shaped, 3 to 5 inches long. 



29 



D. Canadense is the tallest of the desmodiums, 3 to 6 

 feet high. It has a coarse, hairy stem, with large, showy 

 flowers. 



The specific names indicate peculiarities of these plants, but 

 most people will be satisfied to recognize the genus, and call the 

 plant with sticky, jointed pods, small, purplish, papilionaceous 

 flowers and 3-foliate leaves a desmodium. 



