# naked-flowered tick-trefoil (*Hylodesmum nudiflorum*) The naked-flowered tick-trefoil is a special plant with tiny flowers that bloom without any leaves. It grows in fields and meadows, making it a fun find for nature explorers! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Meadows ![naked-flowered tick-trefoil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hylodesmum_nudiflorum_-_Nakedflowered_Ticktrefoil.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hylodesmum_nudiflorum_-_Nakedflowered_Ticktrefoil.jpg) ## Appearance The naked-flowered tick-trefoil has delicate pink to purplish pea-like flowers that bloom on leafless stems, appearing 'naked' above its carpet of three-parted leaves. Its vibrant green foliage often lies low to the ground, creating a distinct two-tiered appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Hylodesmum ## Interesting facts - Its flowering stems grow tall without leaves, appearing completely 'naked'! - Its seeds are so sticky they inspired the 'tick-trefoil' part of its name! - The tiny, pink pea-like flowers are a nectar feast for many pollinators! - This clever plant grows two ways: low leaves AND tall flower stalks! ## Special abilities - **Hitchhiker Seeds:** naked-flowered tick-trefoil can use its Velcro-like seed pods to hitch rides on passing animals, spreading its tiny seeds far and wide! - **Hidden Leaf Factory:** naked-flowered tick-trefoil has ground-level leaves that soak up sun energy, while its 'naked' flower stalks rise high to attract busy pollinators! - **Soil Supercharger:** naked-flowered tick-trefoil partners with tiny underground helpers to pull nitrogen from the air, making the soil richer for itself and neighbors. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-Early Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits the small pink-purple flowers for nectar. - **Eats:** [Juvenal's Duskywing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/juvenals-duskywing) (*Erynnis juvenalis*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of this plant. - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on the leaves and stems, especially new growth. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Helps the plant fix nitrogen in its root nodules. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify naked-flowered tick-trefoil? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is naked-flowered tick-trefoil? 30-90 cm ### How wide does naked-flowered tick-trefoil spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on naked-flowered tick-trefoil? 0.5-0.8 cm ### When does naked-flowered tick-trefoil bloom? Summer-Early Fall ### Is naked-flowered tick-trefoil edible? No ### Is naked-flowered tick-trefoil toxic? None ### What is naked-flowered tick-trefoil's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve - [Conway-Robinson Memorial State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conway-robinson-memorial-state-forest) — Virginia, US · Forest - [West Springfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/west-springfield-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see naked-flowered tick-trefoil](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/naked-flowered-tick-trefoil) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Naked-flowered Tick-trefoil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/naked-flowered-tick-trefoil)