Dalea albiflora
Dalea purpurea
whiteflower prairie clover
purple prairie-clover
(2–)2.5–5(–7) dm, sparsely gland-dotted distally.
2–9 dm, eglandular or with few scattered glands.
spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, 7–10 mm diam.;
axis not visible, (1–)1.5–6(–7) cm;
bracts early deciduous to persistent, 1.5–3.2 mm.
spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, 7–12 mm diam.;
axis not visible, (1–)1.5–7 cm;
bracts persistent through anthesis, (2.3–)2.7–5.8(–7) mm.
0.5–8.5 cm.
(0–)3–15 cm.
10, (5–)6–8 mm, filaments distinct to 3.5–4.5 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm.
5, 5.6–8.5(–9) mm, filaments distinct to 3–5.2(–5.5) mm, anthers (0.7–)0.8–1.3(–1.4) mm.
white;
not conventionally papilionaceous;
banner plane, (4.4–)5–6.4 mm, blade oblong-ovate, not peltate, proximally cordate to cuneate, (2.6–)3–4 × (2–)2.2–3.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached high on stamen tube, just proximal to separation of filaments, blades (2.7–)3.1–4.4 × (0.8–)1.3–1.9(–2.2) mm.
rose, magenta, pale purple, lilac, or pink;
not conventionally papilionaceous;
banner (4.3–)4.7–6.7(–7.2) mm, blade ovate to suborbiculate, 1.7–2.6(–2.8) × 1.7–2.8(–3.2) mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades 2.5–3.8(–4) × 0.8–1.3(–1.5)mm.
asymmetric, recessed opposite banner, (2.8–)3.2–5.1 mm, pilosulous;
tube (1.9–)2–3(–3.3) mm, with 3–6 glands between ribs, lobes triangular.
subsymmetric, 3.2–4.5 mm, pilosulous, base with antrorse hairs;
tube (1.7–)2–2.8(–2.9) mm, with 0 glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate to ovate, adaxial pair broadest.
2.2–2.9 mm, villosulous distally and gland-dotted.
2.1–2.6 mm, distally pilosulous and gland-dotted.
1.6–2 mm.
1.6–2.1 mm.
herbs, erect, ± silky-villosulous.
herbs, erect to spreading, glabrous, puberulent, pilose, or tomentulose.
leaves 1–4 cm;
leaflets (13–)17–35(–41), blades oblanceolate to linear-elliptic, (1.5–)2–7(–10) mm.
leaves 1.7–4(–4.5) cm;
leaflets 3 or 5(or 7), blades linear to linear-elliptic, (7–)10–24(–28) mm.
= 14, 24.
Dalea albiflora
Dalea purpurea
Dalea albiflora is a complex and variable species that could use further morphological and cytological studies. While herbarium specimens cannot be sorted into varieties in any consistent way, in the field, delicate plants with slender, creeping rootstocks may grow with, and appear quite distinct from, plants with a stout caudex; such plants have been called D. ordiae. There are few chromosome counts available; preliminary study suggests that the former plants are tetraploid and the latter diploid (D. E. Ward et al. 1993).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Dalea purpurea is characteristic of prairies and has a wide geographical distribution. It is sometimes cultivated for its showy purple flowers and drought tolerance. Livestock find it palatable; it decreases with grazing.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Spikes (8–)9.5–12 mm diam.; peduncles 0–10 cm (often absent or very short on side shoots). | var. purpurea |
1. Spikes 7–9 mm diam.; peduncles 3–15 cm. | var. arenicola |
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