Desmodium intortum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Desmodium intortum
Flowerhead
In Hawaii
Scientific classification
Genus:	Desmodium
Species:	intortum
Synonyms
List Desmodium adhaesivum Schltdl. Desmodium aparines (Link) DC. Desmodium intortum var. apiculatum B.G.Schub. Desmodium nantouensis Y.C.Liu & F.Y.Lu Desmodium sonorae A.Gray Desmodium trigonum (Sw.) DC. Hedysarum aparines Link Hedysarum intortum Mill. Hedysarum trigonum Sw. Meibomia adhaesiva (Schltdl.) Kuntze Meibomia aparines (Link) Schindl. Meibomia balaensis Schindl. Meibomia intorta (Mill.) S.F.Blake Meibomia sonorae (A.Gray) Kuntze</ Meibomia trigona Gandara

Desmodium intortum, often called greenleaf desmodium, is a special flowering plant. It's also known as beggarlice because its seeds can stick to clothes or animal fur. This plant originally comes from places like Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. It's also found in the Galápagos Islands, Haiti, and Jamaica.

Greenleaf desmodium is very useful. It helps put important nutrients into the soil. This makes the soil healthier for other plants. Because it's so helpful, people have brought it to many other warm parts of the world. You can now find it in Africa, India, Australia, New Guinea, and Taiwan.

How Greenleaf Desmodium Helps Farmers

Greenleaf desmodium is used in a clever farming method called "push–pull agricultural pest management." This method helps farmers protect their crops from harmful insects and weeds.

Pushing Pests Away

The plant makes special chemicals called secondary metabolites. These chemicals are released into the air and soil. They act like a natural bug spray. When greenleaf desmodium is planted next to crops like maize (corn) and sorghum, it "pushes" away certain pests.

One pest it helps repel is the Chilo partellus. This is a type of grass moth whose larvae (caterpillars) bore into the stems of plants. By planting greenleaf desmodium, farmers can keep these moths from damaging their valuable crops.

Pulling Weeds Out

Greenleaf desmodium also helps control unwanted plants called "witchweeds." These weeds steal nutrients from crops, making them weak. The plant can suppress different types of witchweeds. This includes the Asiatic witchweed (Striga asiatica) and the purple witchweed (S. hermonthica). By stopping these weeds, greenleaf desmodium helps crops grow stronger and healthier.