Desmodium uncinatum, the silverleaf desmodium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Latin America, and introduced as a fodder to various locales in Africa, India, New Guinea, Australia and Hawaii.[1] Although chiefly a fodder, it can also be used for pasture, deferred feed, cut-and-carry, hay, ground cover, and mulch.[2] It is considered invasive in Australia and Hawaii.[2]

Desmodium uncinatum
Foliage
Close-up of flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Desmodium
Species:
D. uncinatum
Binomial name
Desmodium uncinatum
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Desmodium hjalmarsonii (Schindl.) Standl.
    • Desmodium pilosiusculum DC.
    • Desmodium sandwicense E.Mey.
    • Desmodium sinclairii Benth.
    • Desmodium uncinatum var. gracile Burkart
    • Hedysarum adhaerens Vahl
    • Hedysarum mexicanum Sweet
    • Hedysarum uncinatum Jacq.
    • Hedysarum virgatum Cerv. ex Sweet
    • Meibomia hjalmarsonii Schindl.
    • Meibomia limensis var. pilosiuscula (DC.) Schindl.
    • Meibomia pilosiuscula (DC.) Hochr.
    • Meibomia sinclairii (Benth.) Schindl.
    • Meibomia uncinata (Jacq.) Kuntze

This species of Desmodium has also found use in the push-pull technology for pest management where it is grown as an intercrop between rows of a cereal crop to control stem-boring insects and fall armyworms. Together with D. intortum (greenleaf desmodium) they are the most common two intercrops of push-pull technology.[3][4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Heuzé, V.; Tran, G.; Eugène, M.; Bastianelli, D. (7 October 2015). "Silverleaf desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum)". Feedipedia – Animal Feed Resources Information System. Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  3. ^ Pickett, John A; Woodcock, Christine M; Midega, Charles AO; Khan, Zeyaur R (2014). "Push–pull farming systems". Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 26: 125–132. doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2013.12.006. PMID 24445079.
  4. ^ Khan, Zeyaur R; Midega, Charles AO; Bruce, Toby J. A.; Hooper, Anthony M; Pickett, John A (2010). "Exploiting phytochemicals for developing a 'push–pull' crop protection strategy for cereal farmers in Africa". Journal of Experimental Botany. 61 (15): 4185–4196. doi:10.1093/jxb/erq229. PMID 20670998. Retrieved 22 March 2022.