Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Subshrub General: Annual with stems erect to prostrate, flowering stems woody below, sparsely branched. Leaves: All unifoliate (single-leaved), leaves very long and narrow, not more than 5 mm wide, bright green with reticulate veins, minutely hairy on both surfaces. Flowers: In terminal or axillary racemes, simple or compound, corolla purple, 2-3 mm long, inconspicuous, on lax racemes, with slender pedicels 10-15 mm long. Fruits: Flat loments sessile, with several single seeded segments, segments of the fruit not contorted, indehiscent, 5-7 jointed. Ecology: Found on dry, rocky slopes among live-oaks and grasses from 3,500-5,000 ft (1067-1524 m); flowering August-September. Notes: Look for this species under Desmodium angustifolium. This species is unique from the other Desmodium with its long, grass-like, solitary leaves. The only other species in our region that is unifoliolate is D. psilophyllum. Ethnobotany: There is no specific use recorded for this species, however the genus was used as an infusion to treat vomiting and colds and as a wash for sores. Etymology: Desmodium is from the Greek desmos for chain, which is a reference to the jointed seed pods, while gramineum means grass like. Synonyms: Desmodium gramineum, Desmodium angustifolium Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011
