Key to Desmodium s. str. taxa naturalized in China:

1. Pods linear, slender; articles narrowly elliptic, ca. 3 × as long as wide ......................................................................... D. scorpiurus

1. Pods narrowly oblong; articles orbicular, triangular or nearly so, nearly as long as wide or slightly longer ....................................2

2. Both sutures of pods constricted between articles, moniliform ...................................................................................... D. tortuosum

2. Adaxial suture of pods straight or somewhat undulate, abaxial suture constricted between articles.................................................3

3. Adaxial surface of leaflet with a silvery plaque along the midvein ............................................................................... D. uncinatum

3. Adaxial surface of leaflet without plaque.......................................................................................................................... D. intortum