Kingdom: Plantae (2603)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2500)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2115)
Order: Fabales (238)
Family: Fabaceae (238)(family description)
Genus: Desmodium (9)
Epithet: velutinum (Willd.) DC. (2)
velutinum => velvet-like, covered closely with short, soft hairs