Creeping Beggarweed
ExplorePlants
Creeping Beggarweed
desmodium incanum
Creeping Beggarweed is a beautiful green plant that loves to grow close to the ground! Its unique leaves can be found in gardens and fields, making it a fun plant to discover while exploring nature.
Habitat: Creeping Beggarweed typically grows in gardens, fields, and along roadsides in tropical and subtropical regions.
Appearance
The Creeping Beggarweed is a low-growing plant with reddish, somewhat fuzzy stems and trifoliate leaves. Its small, pea-like flowers range from pink to purplish, and its unique segmented seed pods are covered in tiny hooks.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusDesmodium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Believe it or not, young Creeping Beggarweed leaves can be safely eaten by people!
Its seeds are like nature's tiny Velcro, designed to hitch rides on passing animals!
Some people call this plant "tick-trefoil" because its sticky pods attach so easily!
This plant is a super-producer, fixing vital nitrogen right into the soil!
Special abilities
Ability
Velcro Seeds
Creeping Beggarweed can produce flat, segmented seed pods with tiny hooks that cling to fur and clothes, helping its seeds travel far!
Ability
Soil Helper
Creeping Beggarweed has special roots that partner with tiny bacteria to pull nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil!
Ability
Folding Leaves
Creeping Beggarweed can fold its leaves together at night or in very hot sun, helping it conserve water and protect itself!
Ability
Ground Hugger
Creeping Beggarweed can grow low and spread out across the ground, forming a dense mat that shades out other competing plants!
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-60 cm
- Spread
- 30-150 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer-fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
domestic cattle
Bos taurus
Common forage for livestock in pastures
pollinates
honey bee
Apis mellifera
Attracts bees with its small, nectar-rich flowers
symbiotic with
rhizobia bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Forms root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen
Traits
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Beggar's TicksTick Trefoil
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Creeping Beggarweed?
15-60 cm
How wide does Creeping Beggarweed spread?
30-150 cm
How big are the flowers on Creeping Beggarweed?
0.5-1 cm
When does Creeping Beggarweed bloom?
Summer-fall
Is Creeping Beggarweed edible?
Yes
Is Creeping Beggarweed toxic?
None
What is Creeping Beggarweed's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Creeping Beggarweed pollinated?
Insect
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