Desmodium
(from desmos, a band; in reference to the stamens being connected). ORD. Leguminosae. A genus containing about 125 species of suffruticose herbs or sub-shrubs, found in all warm parts of the globe. The genera Catenaria, Dendrolobium, Dicerma, Dollinera, Heteroloma, Phyllodium, and Pteroloma, are included by Bentham and Hooker under Desmodium. Flowers purple, blue, rose, or white, in usually loose terminal racemes. Leaves pinnately-trifoliolate; stipels two at the base of the terminal leaflet, and one at the base of each lateral leaflet. Stove and greenhouse plants, except where otherwise stated. For culture, see Cnestis.
D. alatum (winged). A synonym of D. triquetrum.
D. biarticulatum (two-jointed). fl. yellow, disposed in an almost naked terminal raceme. July. l. trifoliolate; leaflets about equal in size, rising from the top of the petiole, obovate-oblong, obtuse. h. 2ft. East Indies, 1808.
D. canadense (Canadian).* fl. reddish-purple, in simple or panicled, lateral or terminal racemes. July. l. pinnately-trifoliolate; leaflets oblong-lanceolate, smoothish. Stems erect, rather pilose and striated. h. 4ft. to 6ft. North America, 1640. Hardy. (B. M. 3553.) D. gyrans (moving).* Moving or Telegraph Plant. fl. violet; racemes numerous, disposed in a panicle. July. l. pinnately-trifoliolate; leaflets elliptic-oblong, terminal one very large, and lateral ones very small. h. 1ft. to 3ft. East Indies, 1775. A very singular annual, the lateral leaflets moving up and down, either steadily or by jerks, the movements being most marked during bright sunshine.
D. nutans (nodding). fl. bluish-lilac, twin; racemes compound, terminal and axillary, and, as well as the branches, pendulous. July. l. pendulous, pinnately-trifoliolate; leaflets roundishrhomboid, tomentose on both surfaces. h. 1ft. to 3ft. East Indies, 1823. (B. M. 2867.) D. penduliflorum. A synonym of Lespedeza bicolor.
D. podocarpum (foot-fruited). fl. purple; racemes terminal, elongated, slender. July. l. pinnately-trifoliolate; leaflets broad-ovate, rather rhomboid, pale beneath. Stem ascending, terete. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Nepaul. D. pulchellum. (pretty). fl. purple, two to each pair of floral leaves, which are bifoliate. July. l. pinnately-trifoliate; leaflets elliptic-oblong, pubescent beneath. h. 2ft. to 3ft. East Indies, 1798. D. Skinneri albo-nitens (Skinner's shining white).* A variety having purple flowers and leaves lined with white. It is a pretty climber, and is very effective trained along the rafters of the stove. SYN. Rhynchosia albo-nitens. (B. M. 5452.) D. triquetrum (triquetrous). fl. purple. July. l., leaflets lanceolate, acuminated, eight times longer than the petioles. h. 3ft. to 6ft. East Indies, 1817. SYN. D. alatum.