Kingdom: Plantae (2715)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2630)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2217)
Order: Fabales (244)
Family: Fabaceae (244)(family description)
Genus: Desmodium (9)
Epithet: velutinum (Willd.) DC. (2)
velutinum => velvet-like, covered closely with short, soft hairs