beggarweed

[beg-er-weed]

noun

1. any of various tick trefoils, especially Desmodium tortuosum, grown for forage in subtropical regions.

2. Chiefly British.,  any weed weed that impoverishes soil.

beggarweed

/ ˈbɛɡəˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of various leguminous plants of the genus Desmodium , esp D. purpureum of the Caribbean, grown in the southern US as forage plants and to improve the soil See also tick trefoil

Word History and Origins

Origin of beggarweed¹

First recorded in 1875–80; beggar + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Cowpeas, soja beans, beggarweed, velvet beans, alfalfa and melilotus can all be grown in the pecan area.

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On fairly good land this will be sufficient, but on poorer ground the land should be continued in cultivation another year, sowing it down in beggarweed, cowpeas, soja beans, or velvet beans.

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