Florida Beggarweed

Desmodium tortuosum

Weed Description
Summer annual, reaching 3-9 feet in height. Leaves and stems covered with short, stiff hairs that often stick to clothing.

Seedlings
Cotyledons round to oval with smooth margins, 3-5 mm wide, 5-8 mm long.

Leaves
Alternate, consisting of 3 elliptic to oblong leaflets in upper leaves (trifoliate), perhaps only 1 leaflet in the lower leaves. Leaves occur on petioles and stipules occur where the petiole meets the stem. Each leaflet 3-4 inches long, ovate to lance-shaped.

Stems
Erect, may be reddish-purple, 3-9 feet tall, usually covered with short stiff hairs.

Flowers
Occur near the top of plants as racemes or branched panicles. Petals are bluish-purple to purple, 5-7 mm long.

Fruit
A loment of 2-7 oval to circular segments, each 3-5 mm long, 3-4 mm broad. Each segment encloses a seed and is densely covered with short, stiff hairs that stick to clothing.

Roots
Taproot.

Identifying Characteristics
Distinctive segmented fruit that sticks to clothing, hairy leaves and stems, and presence of stipules are all features that aide in the identification of this weed.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Florida Beggarweed

Desmodium tortuosum