This species has been confused with Desmodium laxiflorum. However, it is well distinguished from it by terminal leaflets rhombicovate or obovate, shorter than 9cm, acute at apex, lateral veins often 7 - 9 pairs; racemes solitary; pedicel 3 - 5mm; upper calyx lobe 2-toothed at apex; and both sutures of legume distinctly constricted between articles[].

Common Name:

General Information

Desmodium diffusum is a prostrate to nearly erect perennial plant with stems that become more or less woody and persist. It can grow 30 - 100 cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It has potential for use as a green manure.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Thickets, forest margins, mountain slopes; 100 - 2,500 metres in China[]. Along roadsides, in grassland and forest margins, at elevations up to 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Because of the abundant small uncinate hairs on most species, the seedpods cling most tenaciously to clothing, to any part of the human body, and also to the feathers and hair of various animals, thus ensuring a wide dispersal of the plants[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the roots is used to treat stomach-ache in children[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has been tried as a green manure[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed develops a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
The seed usually germinates within 1 - 4 months at 25°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel.
Division. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on until they are rooting well.
Root cuttings.

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