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whiteflower prairie clover

pinkglobe prairie clover

Stems

(2–)2.5–5(–7) dm, sparsely gland-dotted distally.

1.5–4(–5) dm, sparsely glandular-punctate.

Inflorescences

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, 0.5–2.5 cm;

bracts persistent through anthesis, 1.5–4.5 mm.

Peduncles

0.5–8.5 cm.

2.5–18 cm.

Stamens

10, (5–)6–8 mm, filaments distinct to 3.5–4.5 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm.

5, 6–8.5 mm, filaments distinct to 2.5–4.8 mm, anthers 0.8–1 mm.

Corollas

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.

pink;

not conventionally papilionaceous;

banner 4.6–5.8 mm, blade ovate, 2.2–2.5 × 1.5–2.8 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades 2.7–3.1 ×1–1.3 mm.

Calyces

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, 3–5.2 mm, silky-pilosulous, base with subappressed and retrorse hairs;

tube 2–3.1 mm, with 0 glands between ribs, lobes subulate or adaxial pair triangular-ovate.

Legumes

2.2–2.9 mm, villosulous distally and gland-dotted.

3.6 mm, glabrous or apically pilosulous, eglandular.

Seeds

1.6–2 mm.

apparently unknown.

Perennial

herbs, erect, ± silky-villosulous.

herbs, erect, glabrous or sparsely pilosulous.

Principal

leaves 1–4 cm;

leaflets (13–)17–35(–41), blades oblanceolate to linear-elliptic, (1.5–)2–7(–10) mm.

leaves 1.5–3.5 cm;

leaflets 3 or 5, blades linear, 6–15 mm.

2n

= 14, 24.

Dalea albiflora

Dalea tenuis

Phenology Flowering fall (spring–summer). Flowering late spring–early summer (fall).
Habitat Open woodlands, grasslands, roadsides. Rocky limestone soils.
Elevation 1000–2300 m. (3300–7500 ft.) 200–600 m. (700–2000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
OK; TX
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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.)

Dalea tenuis is largely a species of central Texas occurring as far east as McLennan County and south to Bandera County.

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

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Dalea Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Dalea
Sibling taxa
D. aurea, D. bartonii, D. bicolor, D. brachystachys, D. cahaba, D. candida, D. carnea, D. carthagenensis, D. compacta, D. cylindriceps, D. emarginata, D. enneandra, D. exigua, D. exserta, D. feayi, D. filiformis, D. flavescens, D. foliosa, D. formosa, D. frutescens, D. gattingeri, D. grayi, D. greggii, D. hallii, D. jamesii, D. lachnostachys, D. lanata, D. laniceps, D. lasiathera, D. leporina, D. lumholtzii, D. mollis, D. mollissima, D. multiflora, D. nana, D. neomexicana, D. obovata, D. ornata, D. phleoides, D. pinnata, D. pogonathera, D. polygonoides, D. pringlei, D. pulchra, D. purpurea, D. reverchonii, D. sabinalis, D. scandens, D. scariosa, D. searlsiae, D. tentaculoides, D. tenuifolia, D. tenuis, D. urceolata, D. versicolor, D. villosa, D. wrightii
D. albiflora, D. aurea, D. bartonii, D. bicolor, D. brachystachys, D. cahaba, D. candida, D. carnea, D. carthagenensis, D. compacta, D. cylindriceps, D. emarginata, D. enneandra, D. exigua, D. exserta, D. feayi, D. filiformis, D. flavescens, D. foliosa, D. formosa, D. frutescens, D. gattingeri, D. grayi, D. greggii, D. hallii, D. jamesii, D. lachnostachys, D. lanata, D. laniceps, D. lasiathera, D. leporina, D. lumholtzii, D. mollis, D. mollissima, D. multiflora, D. nana, D. neomexicana, D. obovata, D. ornata, D. phleoides, D. pinnata, D. pogonathera, D. polygonoides, D. pringlei, D. pulchra, D. purpurea, D. reverchonii, D. sabinalis, D. scandens, D. scariosa, D. searlsiae, D. tentaculoides, D. tenuifolia, D. urceolata, D. versicolor, D. villosa, D. wrightii
Synonyms D. ordiae Petalostemon violaceus var. tenuis, P. tenuis
Name authority A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 38. (1853) (J. M. Coulter) Shinners: Field & Lab. 17: 84. (1949)
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