any of a genus (Desmodium) of leguminous plants with clusters of small purple flowers, leaves in groups of three, and jointed prickly pods
See tick trefoil in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of various plants of the genus Desmodium, usually having trifoliolate compound leaves, racemes of small purplish or white flowers, and jointed seedpods with easily separable, one-seeded segments.
Origin:
Origin: From tick2 (from the way its pods adhere to animals)