[Differentiating leptolobus from other Desmanthus species]

    Desmanthus velutinus and Desmanthus cooleyi both have 10 stamens and other distinguishing characteristics must be used to identify them.
    For these reasons, we refer readers to Melissa Luckow's work.
    They are not as widespread, have not tested as consistently positive as Desmanthus leptolobus, appear to be weaker and to have smaller roots than Desmanthus illinoensis.
    It should be stressed that much more work needs to be done in this area.
As far as we can tell, one lone independent investigator, Johnny Appleseed is responsible for uncovering all occurrences in Desmanthus species except for Desmanthus illinoensis which was analyzed earlier by Alonzo Thompson and associates.
    It was Thompson's paper that stimulated Appleseed to investigate the genus and Luckow's thesis that enabled the road trip that brought Desmanthus leptolobus into our awareness.

    Reader's should remain aware however, that very few Desmanthus species have thusfar been examined.