Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC.

gangeticum: of the Ganges River, India

Mostly erect shrubby perennial herb 20-200 cm tall, rarely prostrate or straggling. Stems angular, pubescent with longer hairs on the angles. Leaves 1-foliolate, very variable, round, oblong, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 0.4-17.5 cm long, rounded or pointed at the apex, almost hairless or with fine very short hairs above, with much longer hairs beneath; margin entire. Petiole 0.5-2.3 cm long. Stipules lanceolate, 7-13 mm long. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, sometimes branched 7-40 cm long. Flowers with standard pink, blue, mauve, white or greenish and dark blue. Fruit 8-25 mm long, of 3-7(8) articles, joined by narrow necks and covered with short hooked hairs, sometimes with longer hairs on the margins.

Widespread in tropical Africa and Asia. Naturalized in the West-Indies.