Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Annual with stems erect to prostrate, flowering stems woody below, sparsely branched.

Leaves: All unifoliate (single-leaved), leaves very long and narrow, not more than 5 mm wide, bright green with reticulate veins, minutely hairy on both surfaces.

Flowers: In terminal or axillary racemes, simple or compound, corolla purple, 2-3 mm long, inconspicuous, on lax racemes, with slender pedicels 10-15 mm long.

Fruits: Flat loments sessile, with several single seeded segments, segments of the fruit not contorted, indehiscent, 5-7 jointed.

Ecology: Found on dry, rocky slopes among live-oaks and grasses from 3,500-5,000 ft (1067-1524 m); flowering August-September.

Notes: Look for this species under Desmodium angustifolium. This species is unique from the other Desmodium with its long, grass-like, solitary leaves. The only other species in our region that is unifoliolate is D. psilophyllum.

Ethnobotany: There is no specific use recorded for this species, however the genus was used as an infusion to treat vomiting and colds and as a wash for sores.

Etymology: Desmodium is from the Greek desmos for chain, which is a reference to the jointed seed pods, while gramineum means grass like.

Synonyms: Desmodium gramineum, Desmodium angustifolium

Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011