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Illinois Bundleflower
(Desmanthus illinoensis)
Illinois bundleflower is an upright, deep rooted, warm season perennial legume.
This native legume is found throughout the plains and prairies of the United States. Bundleflower is both winter hardy and drought resistant and will grow on a wide range of soil types from clays to sandy loams.
Even though adapted to several soil types and climate conditions, it is usually more abundant in the major moist areas of the terrain such as depressions and slopes.
Bundleflower grows from two to four feet in height with twenty to thirty seed pods curving to form a bundle or cluster. The small brown bundles of seed pods make it easy to identify. Flowers are round, puffy and white. The leaves are dark green.
Illinois Bundleflower is used as a nutritious plant in livestock pastures. All livestock find it palatable so be careful not to over- graze.
Bundleflower is often selected to be used in ranges and pastures as an important part of erosion control. Bundleflower is best suited to areas receiving fifteen inches or more of annual rainfall. Planting rate for bundleflower is 13.6 pure live seed pounds per acre, at a depth of 1⁄4 to 3⁄4 inch in a firm seed bed.
Once established, Bundleflower requires very little attention.