Dalea albiflora
Dalea searlsiae
whiteflower prairie clover
Searls' prairie clover
(2–)2.5–5(–7) dm, sparsely gland-dotted distally.
(2.5–)3–5.5 dm, glandular-tuberculate.
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, relatively densely flowered, not obviously involucrate, (8–)9–11 mm diam.;
axis partially visible at anthesis, (1.5–)2–9(–14) cm;
bracts deciduous, 3–5(–6) mm.
0.5–8.5 cm.
(2.5–)4–16(–20) cm.
10, (5–)6–8 mm, filaments distinct to 3.5–4.5 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm.
5, 5.5–8.5 mm, filaments distinct to 3–5.1 mm, anthers 1.1–1.5 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.
usually rose-purple, rarely white;
not conventionally papilionaceous;
banner 5.3–7.2 mm, blade ovate to ovate-triangular or -oblong, 2.8–3.7 × 2.2–3.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades (2.7–)3–4.1 × (0.9–)1.1–1.6 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.
asymmetric, deeply recessed opposite banner, opening oblique, (3.2–)3.5–4.6(–4.8) mm, glabrous or pilosulous proximally, pilosulous distally;
tube 2–2.8 mm, with (0 or)2–4 small, pale blister glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate-subulate or adaxial pair triangular-ovate.
2.2–2.9 mm, villosulous distally and gland-dotted.
3.2–4 mm, pilosulous to ± glabrous distally and gland-dotted.
1.6–2 mm.
2–2.8 mm.
herbs, erect, ± silky-villosulous.
herbs, erect, pilosulous throughout or glabrous proximal to inflorescence.
leaves 1–4 cm;
leaflets (13–)17–35(–41), blades oblanceolate to linear-elliptic, (1.5–)2–7(–10) mm.
leaves 2–5.5 cm;
leaflets 5 or 7(or 9), blades flat or folded, oblanceolate to obovate, 7–20 mm, surfaces glandular-tuberculate abaxially.
= 14, 24.
Dalea albiflora
Dalea searlsiae
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.)
The ranges of Dalea searlsiae and D. flavescens overlap only in a small area of south-central Utah and north-central Arizona. In California, D. searlsiae is known from the Inyo and White mountains and other desert mountains in the southeastern part of the state.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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