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Home/Species/ Hoary Tick-trefoil

Desmodium canescens

(L.) DC.

Hoary Tick-trefoil

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129119
Element CodePDFAB1D090
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 blanchâtre (FR) hoary 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 Date2025-05-08
Change Date1984-04-24
Edition Date2025-05-08
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Desmodium canescens is a perennial forb occurring in open woodlands, fields, thickets and disturbed sites of eastern North America, from Ontario and Massachusetts south to Florida and Texas in the United States and Canada. There are over 500 estimated occurrences of this taxon, which are threatened by development, succession, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and high number of occurrences, Desmodium canescens is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Desmodium canescens occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario and Massachusetts south to Florida and Texas in the United States and Canada (FNA 2023). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are more than 500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Desmodium canescens is threatened by development, succession, rights-of-way construction and maintenance (including herbicide use, mowing, etc.), invasive species, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2025). 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 canescens occurs in "open, dry woodlands, cutover areas, thickets, [and] roadsides" (FNA 2023). It is also found in meadows and fields, woodland borders, and disturbed areas (Native Plant Trust 2025, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025).

Reproduction

Desmodium canescens produces flowers from June through October (Native Plant Trust 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WisconsinS1Yes
South CarolinaS4Yes
IndianaS4Yes
MissouriSNRYes
North CarolinaS4Yes
FloridaSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
KentuckyS5Yes
New JerseyS3Yes
IowaS3Yes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
MassachusettsS3Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
New YorkS4Yes
LouisianaSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
GeorgiaS4Yes
VirginiaS4Yes
ConnecticutSUYes
MarylandSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
KansasS3Yes
DelawareS1Yes
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownUnknown
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensityUnknownUnknownUnknown
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
References (9)
  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). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  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. Native Plant Trust. 2025. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org (accessed 2025).
  6. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  9. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).