File:Carpon Desmodium (1461974607).jpg

Fabaceae (pea, or legume family) » Desmodium heterocarpon

des-MOH-dee-um -- from the Greek desmos (band or chain), refers to jointed seed pods het-er-oh-KAR-pon -- from the Greek heteros (different) and karpos (fruit)

commonly known as: carpon desmodium • Marathi: जांभळी दशमी jambhali dashmi

... perennial (3-5 year) sub-shrub ... sometimes a shrub or herb ... ascending or often creeping with a woody rootstock.

... stems and branches up to 1 m long, diffuse and ascending or erect ... range from nearly glabrous to densely covered with white or yellowish hairs.

... leaves are generally trifoliate, though unifoliate leaves are common on seedlings and not unusual toward the base of mature stems ... terminal leaflet larger, normally broadly elliptic, ovate or obovate, with tips generally retuse.

... inflorescence composed of densely flowered, terminal and axillary racemes; flowers lilac pink to purplish red.

References: Flowers of Sahyadri by Shrikant Ingalhalikar • PIER species info • Tropical Forages