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Piedmont indigo-bush, schwerin's false indigo

Habit Shrubs, (1–)1.5–2.5 m; arising from compact, woody root.
Stems

finely grooved, gland-dotted, puberulent.

Leaves

(5–)8–12(–22) cm;

stipules linear to narrowly lanceolate, 3–4.5 mm, eglandular, pubescent abaxially, glabrous adaxially;

petiole (7–)10–18(–25) mm, usually eglandular, pubescent;

rachis usually eglandular, puberulent;

leaflets (7–)19–27(–29), stipels acicular, 1–2.2 mm, petiolule (0.5–)1–2 mm, gland-dotted, pilosulous to puberulent, blade usually elliptic to narrowly oblong, rarely ovate to suborbiculate, (5–)15–30(–40) × (4–)8–15(–20) mm, base truncate to subcordate, margins slightly revolute, entire or slightly crenulate, apex obtuse to round or emarginate, surfaces gland-dotted, pilose to pubescent;

midvein terminated by a swollen mucro, 0.2–0.5(–0.8) mm.

Racemes

1(or 2)-branched, (2–)4–8(–12) cm;

rachis usually eglandular, puberulent to pubescent;

bracteoles linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2–3.5 mm, pilosulous abaxially, glabrous adaxially.

Pedicels

(0.8–)1–1.5(–2) mm, eglandular, puberulent to pubescent.

Flowers

calyx tube turbinate to cylindric, 1.8–2.5 mm, distal 1/3 or less gland-dotted, pilosulous;

lobes linear to narrowly lanceolate, (1.2–)2–3.5 mm;

banner purplish, broadly obovate to obcordate, 4.5–6.5 × 3–4.2 mm, distinctly clawed, margins entire or erose;

filaments 6–8 mm, connate basally 1.5–2 mm;

anthers golden yellow;

ovary usually pubescent.

Legumes

sessile, 5–6.5 × 1.8–2.2 mm, margins curved outward abaxially, straight adaxially, at least distal 1/2 gland-dotted, usually glabrous.

Seeds

not seen.

Amorpha schwerinii

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Dry to moist open woodlands and forests.
Elevation 100–600 m. (300–2000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; GA; NC; SC
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Amorpha schwerinii is listed as a species of special concern in Georgia and South Carolina, and as significantly rare in North Carolina.

(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. nana, A. nitens, A. ouachitensis, A. paniculata, A. roemeriana
Name authority C. K. Schneider: Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. 2: 71, figs. 42l,m, 44a. (1907) — (as schwerini)
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