Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Showy
Tick Trefoil
Desmodium canadense [C-value 4]
Bean family (Fabaceae)
Blooms July
-
mid-September
The lovely native Showy Tick Trefoil is common in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and moderately moist conditions and might be found in moist meadows, restored prairies, and prairie remnants. This perennial is 2-6' tall, fuzzy and sometimes sprawling on the ground. The compound leaves have three grayish green leaflets. The upper stems terminate in elongated panicles of pink or lavender pea-like blossoms that are about ½" long with an upper and a lower petal, initially folded and keel-like, but later opening starting with the upper petal. There is a small patch of dark pink at the center of the flower, from which emerges an upwardly curved white tube containing the stigmas and pistil.
Showy Tick Trefoil at Maramech Forest Preserve prairie July 7, 2016
Showy Tick Trefoil early foliage at Subat Forest Preserve prairie June 26, 2013
Showy Tick Trefoil at Maramech Forest Preserve prairie July 7, 2016
Showy Tick Trefoil at Jay Woods Forest Preserve August 14, 2013
Showy Tick Trefoil at Subat Forest Preserve July 30, 2014
Showy Tick Trefoil at Maramech Forest Preserve prairie July 7, 2016
Showy Tick Trefoil at Maramech Forest Preserve July 30, 2014
Showy Tick Trefoil pea heads (beans) at Subat Forest Preserve July 30, 2014
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