Desmodium diffusum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

Protologue: Ann. Sci. nat. 4: 100 (1825).

Synonyms

From India eastward to Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indo-China, China, Taiwan and throughout the Malesian region.

In Laos, a decoction of the roots is used to treat stomach-ache in children. In India, it is used as a fodder and has been tried as a green manure.

A prostrate or erect undershrub, 30-100 cm tall, branches hairy in the upper parts.
Leaves 3-foliolate, sometimes mixed with 1-foliolate leaves at the base of the branches, stipules narrowly triangular, 6-11 mm long, terminal leaflet ovate to broadly ovate, 2.5-11 cm × 1.5-6 cm, larger than the lateral ones, chartaceous, upper surface rather hairy, lower surface covered with silky hairs, lateral veins 7-9, extending to the margin.
Inflorescence a terminal and axillary raceme, 10-30 cm long.
Flowers in clusters of 3-5, calyx 4-lobed, hairy, corolla blue or violet, androecium diadelphous.
Pod linear, 3-3.8 cm × 0.2 cm, 5-9-jointed, articles asymmetrically oblong, covered with hooked hairs.
Seeds 2.5-3 mm × 1.1-1.3 mm.

D. diffusum is found along roadsides, in grassland and forest margins, up to 2000 m altitude.

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