PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Perplexed Tick-trefoil (Desmodium perplexum)

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Photo by Wisconsin Herbarium

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Perplexed Tick-trefoil (Desmodium perplexum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in open forests and savannahs, or other dry upland habitats. Blooming occurs July through August, fruiting summer through fall. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-summer through early-fall.

Desmodium dillenii, Desmodium paniculatum var. dillenii

 
 
 

Perplexed tick-trefoil, an erect forb, up to 1m tall, branching occasionally, with petioles at least 0.5cm long. Both stem and petiole are pubescent with wavy or straight hairs and a fine underlayer of puberulence. It has white to pinkish-purple pea-like flowers, usually 6 -7.5mm in width, with two lateral petals and a keel. Borne on panicles up to 5cm long. Fruits are a flat pod with 2-4 segments that are triangular or unevenly diamond-shaped, and covered in hairs that stick to fur and clothes. Leaves are alternate, trifoliate with oblong-lanceolate leaflets. Leaflets are 1-3 times as long as wide. Petioles of the middle leaves (sometimes all) are at least 4mm in length, and greater than or equal to the width of the terminal leaflet.

It is most likely to be confused with D glabellum, which has hairs that are hooked on the stem and petiole and a strong reticulated vein network on the lower surface of the leaflets, or D paniculatum, which has longer leaflets (3-7 times as long as wide).

Blooming occurs July through August, fruiting summer through fall.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-summer through early-fall.

Desmodium perplexum is a pioneer species that does well with some disturbance.

Perplexed tick-trefoil prefers loam, clay-loam, or rocky soils and is found in open forests and savannahs, or other dry upland habitats.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes on or near known populations.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.