Desmodium uncinatum

Spanish clover, thick clover, silverleaf desmodium

Spreading perennial native to tropical America. Its upright stems spread and its roots node at the stem when cut. It has a large root system but grows best in wet lowland because the roots are shallow. Grows well with grasses (e.g. Kikuyu). Tolerates frost. High herbage and seed yields.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Fresh aerial part,

India

12.8

29.7

9.1

3.4

45.0

1.06

0.41

436

Fresh, mid-bloom,

Australia

22.0

18.2

32.5

7.6

4.6

37.1

340

Fresh, mature,

Australia

26.0

11.8

41.3

6.8

2.6

37.5

"

Digestibility (%)

Animal

CP

CF

EE

NFE

ME

Ref

Fresh, mid-bloom

Sheep

67.5

33.5

71.2

70.4

2.12

340

Fresh, mature

Sheep

53.7

45.2

57.7

60.2

1.88

"