Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) Macmill. ex B.L.Rob. & Fernald

Taprooted herb with clustered stems to 1 m or more; stipules filiform, 6–10 mm; lvs bipinnate, 5–10 cm, nearly sessile; pinnae 6–12 pairs, 2–4 cm; lfls 20–30 pairs, 1.5–3 mm, often ciliate; peduncles 2–6 cm, ascending; pet 2 mm; stamens 5; frs strongly curved or somewhat twisted together into a dense subglobose head, thin, 1–2.5 cm × 4–7 mm; seeds 3–5 mm, nearly as wide; 2n=28. Moist or dry soil, riverbanks, prairies, and pastures; O. to N.D., s. to Fla. and N.M., and occasionally intr. elsewhere. All summer. (Acuan i.)

Prairies, river banks and fields. Ditches, stream bottoms, fields, roadsides and low areas, often on clay soils.

It is being investigated as a potential grain crop.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.