Meibomia nudiflora (L.) Kuntze
Desmodium nudiflorum (L.) DC.
Naked tick-trefoil, nakedflower ticktrefoil
Naked tick-trefoil is a perennial native to eastern North America.
Plants: A leafy stem 4–12″ (10–30 cm) high is topped by leafless racemes of delicate, usually pink flowers.
Leaves: Leaves occur on a separate stem from the flowers. Each leaf, on a stem 2–3″ (5–7.6 cm) long, is a compound leaf comprised of three leaflets. Each leaflet is 1½–4 ⨉ 1½–2½″ (4–10 ⨉ 3.8–6.3 cm). Each terminal leaflet is on a mini-stem—a “petiolule”—¾″ (1.9 cm) long, while the two smaller side leaflets are on petiolules ⅛″ (3.2 mm) long.
Flowers: The common name “naked tick-trefoil” (or “naked-flower tick trefoil”) refers to the flower-bearing stems, which are devoid of leaves. Flowers appear in racemes, emerging from the stems in pairs, and are somewhat unevenly distributed. Each flower is pink or purplish, rarely white, and ¼–5/16″ (6.3–8.4 mm) long. It has a rounded upper petal that is somewhat heart-shaped. Below are 3 more petals, two narrow, rounded petals called “wings,” and a central thinner petal. The flowers are on stalks, usually dull red, up to ¾″ (1.9 cm) long.
Fruits: Flat, segmented pods consist of one to four lobes. These pods are called “loments.” Each lobe is a half-circle, with the flat sides along the stem. Short, hooked, velcro-like hairs on these pods help them hitch a ride on passers-by, such as white-tailed deer.
Habitats: Mesic, damp, deciduous forests with rich soil and partial sunlight.
Online References:
References:
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Some similar species. |
Hylodesmum nudiflorum (L.) H. Ohashi & R.R. Mill
Meibomia nudiflora (L.) Kuntze
Meibomia nudiflora (L.) Kuntze
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.5 cm) 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) 
I think the little galls are Neolasioptera desmodii. · 8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 6″ (12 × 14 cm) 
7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia 
7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts 
7/30/2017 · Jason’s Cutoff and Nearby Trails, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts 
7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia 
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts 
7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 10 × 8″ (26 × 20 cm) 
7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia 
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts 
7/30/2017 · Jason’s Cutoff and Nearby Trails, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.3 cm) 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 12 cm) 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm) 
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts 
7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Fabales | Legumes (pea and bean families) |
| Family | Fabaceae | Legume family (peas and beans) |
| Genus | Desmodium | Fromthe Greek desmos, “bond, fetter, halter, or chain” |
| Species | nudiflorum | Flowering before the leaves emerge; or in this case, flowering on leafless stems |
Desmodium nudiflorum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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