Desmodium cuneatum Hooker &Arnott
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Leguminosae

Synonyms

  • Desmodium brevipes Vogel (1838)
  • Meibomia brevipes (Vogel) Kuntze (1891)
  • Meibomia cuneata (Hooker & Arnott) Kuntze (1891)
 Author: P. Izaguirre de Artucio

Common names:

Desmodium cuneatum

Description:

Shrub, perennial, erect, up to 2 m high, strong root, short woody rhizomes. Summer growth, flowers spring to autumn; fruit/seed ripening from end spring to mid-autumn.

Distribution:

South American origin: South Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Central and subtropical Argentina and Uruguay.

Habitat:

In open fields with shrubs, slightly rocky soils, open savannas.

Use:

Excellent natural forage, not resistant to grazing, becoming scarce. Highly desired by cattle, high nutritional value. Damaged by frosts, very resistant to drought due to deep rooting and strong stems.

References:

Burkart (1987); Izaguirre & Beyhaut (1998); Oliveira (1983)