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Desmodium cuspidatum

(Muhl. ex Willd.) DC. ex Loud.

Toothed Tick-trefoil

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.156207
Element CodePDFAB1D0D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusDesmodium
Other Common Names
Desmodie cuspidée (FR) Large-bract Tick-trefoil (EN) largebract ticktrefoil (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-07-08
Change Date1984-04-24
Edition Date2024-07-08
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Desmodium cuspidatum is a perennial herb which is found widely in the eastern United States and southern Canada. With a large range extent, more than 300 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Desmodium cuspidatum is found across the eastern United States and southern Canada from Minnesota to Texas east to Florida and Massachusetts and north to Ontario. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be more than 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Desmodium cuspidatum is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Desmodium cuspidatum grows in rich, moist woodlands, thickets, openings, dry, rocky woodlands, and ruderal areas (FNA 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralOld fieldCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MarylandS1Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
KentuckySNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
VirginiaS2Yes
ConnecticutS1Yes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSHYes
MissouriSNRYes
South CarolinaS2Yes
MassachusettsS2Yes
West VirginiaS4Yes
VermontS1Yes
MinnesotaS2Yes
FloridaSNRYes
New JerseySNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
TexasSNRYes
IowaS4Yes
North CarolinaS2Yes
LouisianaSNRYes
DelawareSHYes
New HampshireSHYes
KansasS3Yes
MississippiSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
IndianaS4Yes
NebraskaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
References (5)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 11. Magnoliophyta: Fabaceae, parts 1+2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvii + 1108 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).