Kingdom: Plantae (2656)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2569)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2165)
Order: Fabales (241)
Family: Fabaceae (241)(family description)
Genus: Desmodium (9)
Epithet: velutinum (Willd.) DC. (2)
velutinum => velvet-like, covered closely with short, soft hairs