Desmodium lineatum

Desmodium lineatum
Photo taken by Kevin Robertson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae
Genus:	Desmodium
Species:	D. lineatum
Binomial name
Desmodium lineatum DC.
Natural range of Desmodium lineatum from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Sand ticktrefoil

Distribution

Found in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina (NRCS Plants Database). It is primarily found in the panhandle and upper peninsular of Florida (ISB Plants Database).

Ecology

Habitat

It is found in frequently burned upland longleaf and shortleaf pine native and old-field communities (Ultisols) (Brewer and Cralle 2003, FSU Herarium), pine-oak sandhills (Entisols), pine flatwoods (Spodosols), and open areas within upland hardwood forests. Thrives in frequently burned (1-2 year fire interval) areas (Gilliam et al 2009, FSU Herbarium). Occurs primarily on sandy soils but can occur on a wide range of soils including sandy loam and sandy clay (FSU Herbarium). It occurs in both full sun and partially shade (FSU Herbarium), but having a prostrate habit it is not tolerant of very dense groundcover vegetation (Robertson observation). It is occurs in both native communities and in areas with a hsitory of soil disturbance (FSU Herbarium, Robertson observation).

Associated species include Desmodium ciliare, D. floridanum, D. ochroleucum, D. rotundifolium, D. laevigatum, Quercus laevis, Pinus elliotti (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

It flowers and fruits April-November (primarily in autumn)(FSU Herbarium).

Fire ecology

It is associated with frequently burned areas such as pinelands, pine flatwoods, savannas, and mature Longleaf pine-wiregrass uplands (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, Loran C. Anderson, R.K. Godfrey, Gary R. Knight, A. F. Clewell, V. Sullivan, J. Wooten, R. Kral, J. P. Gillespie, Richard S. Mitchell, A.H. Curtiss, Wilson Baker, R. A. Norris, R. Komarek, T. MacClendon, - Boothes, Billie Bailey, William B. Fox, Sidney McDaniel, A. E. Radford, Clarke Hudson, and Michael B. Brooks. States and Counties: Florida: Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Duval, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, and Wakulla. Georgia: Baker, Grady, and Thomas. Mississippi: Franklin, George, Madison, and Stone. North Carolina: Cumberland. South Carolina: Jasper and Marlboro.

ISB Plants Database http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/

KMR

NRCS Plants Database http://plants.usda.gov/java/

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 604-8. Print.