desmodium

noun

des·​mo·​di·​um
dezˈmōdēəm
1
capitalized : a large genus of coarse chiefly tropical and perennial leguminous herbs comprising the tick trefoils and having stipulate pinnate leaves, racemose flowers, and indehiscent fruits that separate into one-seeded segments and often stick to anything touching them see beggarweed, telegraph plant
2
plural -s : a plant of the genus Desmodium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, probably irregular from Greek desmos band, bond + New Latin -ium

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Cite this Entry

“Desmodium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desmodium. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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