Family: Fabaceae

Desmodium intortum (beggar lice, green-leaf desmodium) is a perennial tropical legume. Desmodium intortum is primarily grown as a forage crop for livestock. It is valued for its high-quality, nutritious foliage, which is palatable to various herbivores, including cattle, sheep, and goats. Like other legumes, Desmodium intortum has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in its root nodules, which enriches the soil with nitrogen. This not only benefits the plant itself but also improves soil fertility for other crops grown in rotation. It is reported to be naturalized in tropical and subtropical Asia, including Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. Desmodium intortum is regarded as invasive due to its aggressive growth and persistent nature, which can lead it to outcompete other plant species. Its ability to “hitchhike” on animals, clothes and vehicles, and ability to self-seed further contribute to its classification as a weed.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability and elevation range
  
• Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and widely naturalized elsewhere
  
• A weed of riparian vegetation, forest margins, open wooodlands, roadsides, disturbed sites and waste areas
  
• Reported to be a crop weed in other regions of the world and an environmental weed in Australia
  
• Other Desmodium species are invasive weeds
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Climbing and potentially smothering habit
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by stolons
  
• Hybridizes with other Desmodium species
  
• Self-fertile
  
• Reaches maturity in second year of growth
  
• Seeds dispersed by attaching to animals, clothing and vehicles
  
• Seeds may also be dispersed by water, in contaminated agricultural produce and internally by grazing animals
  
• Resprouts from the rootstock after fires

Low Risk Traits:

• Valued as a palatable pasture species in the Hawaiian Islands, and generally not regarded as a serious or detrimental weed
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Self-fertile, but may depend on pollinators for good seed set
  
• Some herbicides may provide effective control