Desmodium tortuosum aka Florida Beggarweed

Desmodium tortuosum belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. People call it beggarweed or West Indian cock's head. Its native range runs from Argentina to the southern United States. It includes Brazil, Peru, Central America, and Mexico. The plant is not native to Britain or Ireland. People also grow it beyond its native range.

The plant grows upright and can have many branches. It may be an annual or perennial herb, or a shrub. Useful Tropical Plants lists its height as about 5 feet [1.5 metres]. The fuller account gives 1.6–6.6 feet [0.5–2 metres]. The sources give no width for a full-grown plant. They give no leaf shape or flower colour for this species. Insects carry pollen between its flowers. The plant forms seedpods.

Beggarweed suits the tropics and warm subtropical zones. In the wild, it grows in damp and dry thickets. It also grows on rocky ground and beside sandy streams. Its sites reach about 3,940 feet [1,200 metres] above sea level. Beyond its native range, it grows on disturbed land. It also grows in fields and grassland there. Coastal records place it in sandy or lime-rich soils. These records show where it grows, not a tested garden watering plan. The sources give no frost limit or hardiness zone.

People grow or test beggarweed as green manure and ground cover. They use it in parts of the Americas, Africa, and Australia. The source says its role as a crop has declined. Bacteria live in root nodules, where they fix nitrogen. The plant uses some of this nitrogen to grow. Nearby plants can gain from this process too. Its recorded value lies in soil cover and green manure. The account does not focus on its use for looks.

Its spread poses a clear concern for growers. Plants have escaped from planted sites and taken hold elsewhere. Many areas class the species as invasive. The account names no specific pests or diseases. It lists no known uses for food or medicine. It reports no known hazards, but does not prove safety for people or pets. The account favours fresh seed for sowing. Stored seed can form a hard coat and may need scarification. This means breaking or wearing down the seed coat. The seed-growing account gives one to four months for germination at 25°C.