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Desmanthus illinoensis
  • Prairie Mimosa

a perennial member of the Desmanthus genus in the family Leguminosae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Desmanthus illinoensis has 0 edible uses listed
Desmanthus illinoensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked. Rich in protein but without much flavour[1]. The seedpods are about 25mm long and contain 3 - 5 small seeds[2]. They are freely borne in the plants native environment, but will have to be very freely produced in this country if it is to be a worthwhile crop[K].

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Desmanthus illinoensis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A leaf tea has been used in the treatment of itchy skin[3][4]. Five seeds have been placed in the eye at night and washed out in the morning to treat trachoma[4].

Unknown part

Antipruritic
Ophthalmic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in a cold frame in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. If you have sufficient seed then it is probably worthwhile sowing some in situ in mid to late spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Desmanthus illinoensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a moist but well-drained soil in full sun[5]. Plants are often found growing in clay soils in the wild[6].

Suitable for the wild garden or other naturalistic plantings[5]. In favourable situations this plant can self-sow to the point of nuisance[5]. This plant is being evaluated by the Land Institute of Salina, Kansas, as an edible legume for growing with perennial grains in a non-tillage permaculture system[1]. It is certainly worthy of more attention in this country, though the small seed size mitigates against its use[K].

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Desmanthus illinoensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Desmanthus illinoensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Desmanthus illinoensis
Genus
Desmanthus
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[3][4]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5][2][6]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.3 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)

    "image:Fern1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Desmanthus illinoensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
    Belongs to genusDesmanthus +
    Functions asNitrogen fixer +
    Has common namePrairie Mimosa +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partSeeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeInsects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageFern1.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height1.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntipruritic + and Ophthalmic +
    Has primary imageFern1.jpg +
    Has search namedesmanthus illinoensis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameDesmanthus illinoensis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +