Beggars Lice Desmodium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- des-MOH-dee-um
- Description
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Desmodium spp., commonly known as Beggars lice is a woody trailing legume in the Fabaceae family. There are dozens of species and there is indecision in the taxonomic world in defining the genus. This plant can be used as a living mulch or green manure as they are able to improve soil fertility via nitrogen fixation. They can also be used as livestock fodder. The hairy seedpods readily cling to fur and clothing so both animals and humans unwittingly spread their seeds. They germinate readily and can become weedy.
Beggarlice are herbaceous perennials that may grow 2 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are alternate and trifoliate with hooked hairs on the underside. Flowers vary in color from white to violet. The herb produces a triangular seed that sticks like a tick.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Regions: Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plains
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Late summer Nut/Fruit/Seed: Fall
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Desmodium
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropics & Subtropics to North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- They make a quality food source for bobwhite, turkey, grouse, and deer. This is a larval host plant for many species of butterfly. Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) appears from May-September with three-four broods in the deep south, two broods in the east, and one brood in the north and west. Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) has two broods from April-September in most of its range, one brood from June-August in the north. Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) broods from May-July in the north, earlier in the south and two broods from March-September in Texas. Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus) which has two broods (possibly three) from June-early October in most of its range, one brood mid-June-mid-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) has three to four flights from February-November in the south and two flights from May-September in the north. Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) has many broods from February-November. In the winter, its seeds serve as a food source for songbirds, quail, and small mammals.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape, moderately resistant to damage from deer, drought tolerant
- Edibility:
- Edible
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Legume hairy seed pod in triangular form which readily clings to fur and clothing so both animals and humans unwittingly spread their seeds. They germinate readily and can become weedy.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The central stem of the Beggars lice flower terminates in an elongated raceme of pale purple or white flowers about ½–1½' long. Usually, only a few flowers are in bloom at the same time. Flowers are attractive to some pollinators. Blooms in late summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Beggars lice has alternate, trifoliate, compound leaves, light green above and whitish green below, which have prominent veins with fine hooked hairs. Leaflets are up to 3½" long and 1" across, lanceolate-oblong or lanceolate-ovate, with smooth margins, and a leathery texture. The base of a leaflet is rounded, while the tip is usually blunt.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is green, erect, pubescent, with clusters of pink or rose-purple flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Problems:
- Weedy
