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dwarf false indigo, dwarf indigo, dwarf indigobush

Habit Shrubs, (0.1–)0.3–0.6(–1) m; usually rhizomatous.
Stems

finely longitudinally grooved and ridged, gland-dotted, strigulose to glabrate.

Leaves

(1.5–)3–7(–10) cm;

stipules linear or setaceous, (2–)3–5(–6.5) mm;

petiole (2–)4–8(–10) mm, usually gland-dotted, mostly strigulose, sometimes glabrous;

rachis gland-dotted, puberulent or glabrous;

leaflets (7–)13–27(–41), stipels acicular, (1–)1.5–2.5(–3) mm, petiolule 0.7–1 mm, gland-dotted, especially abaxially, mostly pubescent to glabrate, blade usually elliptic to oblong or ovate, rarely obovate to suborbiculate, (2–)6–13(–18) × (2–)3–6(–8) mm, base mostly round, margins usually somewhat revolute, entire or inconspicuously crenulate, apex round to truncate or emarginate, surfaces glabrous, margins puberulent;

midvein usually terminated by a slender mucro, (0.6–)0.8–1.2(–1.5) mm.

Racemes

unbranched, (2–)3–7(–9) cm;

rachis eglandular, usually puberulent;

bracteoles linear to narrowly spatulate, (2.5–)3–4(–5) mm, eglandular, puberulent.

Pedicels

1–2(–2.5) mm, eglandular, usually puberulent.

Flowers

calyx tube turbinate, (1.5–)1.8–2(–2.2) mm, at least distal 1/2 gland-dotted, glabrous;

lobes triangular to narrowly lanceolate, (0.8–)1–2(–2.2) mm;

banner dark reddish purple, broadly obcordate, 4.5–6 × 3.5–4.5 mm, distinctly clawed, margins finely erose, apex emarginate;

filaments 6–8 mm, connate basally 0.5–1 mm;

anthers purplish;

ovary glabrous.

Legumes

sessile, 4.5–5.5 × 2–2.8 mm, margins curved outward abaxially, straight adaxially, at least distal 2/3 gland-dotted, glabrous.

Seeds

olive brown, 2.5–3 × 1–1.5 mm, reticulate.

2n

= 20.

Amorpha nana

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Prairies, hillsides, buttes, sandy soils, clay soils if well-drained, in prairies, prairies on shale slopes, usually calcareous soils.
Elevation 200–2200 m. (700–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; IA; KS; MN; ND; NE; NM; OK; SD; MB
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Amorpha nana is listed as threatened by the state of Iowa; it is encountered more commonly in the northern and western parts of its range.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Amorpha
Sibling taxa
A. californica, A. canescens, A. confusa, A. crenulata, A. fruticosa, A. georgiana, A. glabra, A. herbacea, A. laevigata, A. nitens, A. ouachitensis, A. paniculata, A. roemeriana, A. schwerinii
Synonyms A. microphylla
Name authority Nuttall: Cat. Pl. Upper Louisiana, no. 5. (1813)
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