Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


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Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

27. Mimosaceae, the Mimosa Family

1. Desmanthus Willd.

1. Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. -- Prairie mimosa

Erect perennial 3-10 dm tall; stems strongly ribbed, glabrous to hirsutulous. Leaves twice pinnate, 3-10 cm long; pinnae 6-12 pairs, 1.5-4 cm long; leaflets very small, oblong, 2-5 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, ciliolate, mucronate; stipules setaceous, 5-10 mm long. Inflorescence a small globose cluster of minute flowers; peduncles 2-6 cm long. Flowers whitish to greenish, regular; calyx campanulate, 5-toothed; corolla of 5 petals, separate or slightly united at the base; stamens 5, distinct, long-exserted. Fruits in a dense, subglobose head, flat, strongly curved, 1-2.5 cm long, 4-7 mm wide, containing few to several seeds. Late Jul--Sep. Uncommon and confined to sandy or gravelly lake shores in the n part of our region, becoming more common and occupying a variety of habitats in the c and s parts; (OH to ND, s to FL, TX and NM).

Desmanthus illinoensis GIF- Distribution Map

Map key

Return to Family -- Mimosaceae - The Mimosa Family

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Menlo Park, CA [caww55]