About Desmodium canadense (L.) DC.
Desmodium canadense (L.) DC. is a species of flowering plant belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to eastern North America, and its common names are showy tick-trefoil, Canadian tick-trefoil, and Canada tickclover. This plant is a perennial herb that grows in woods, prairies, and disturbed habitats like roadsides. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant, and acts as a larval host plant for butterflies including the eastern tailed-blue, silver-spotted skipper, and hoary edge. It also attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds. Its flowers are pea-shaped, range in color from pink to purple, and bloom between July and September. Desmodium canadense is currently being investigated as a potential source of bean pod mottle virus in soybean plants. As a carrier of this virus, it may transmit the virus to the bean leaf beetle, which then passes the virus to soybean crops. The virus causes severe systemic mottling and mild leaf puckering, which can reduce seed size and pod set, leading to decreased crop yields.
