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golden dalea, golden prairie clover

Sonoran prairie-clover

Stems

(2–)3–7.5 dm, nearly eglandular.

(0.4–)0.7–3(–3.5) dm, eglandular.

Inflorescences

spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, (12–)14–21 mm diam.;

axis not visible, (1–)1.5–6 cm;

bracts persistent to anthesis, 2.5–5.5 mm.

spikes, relatively densely flowered, not involucrate, 5–7 mm diam.;

axis not to partially visible, (0.2–)0.3–1.5(–2) cm;

bracts early deciduous, 1.5–2.8 mm.

Peduncles

absent or very short, sometimes appearing relatively long due to small size of distalmost leaves.

(1.3–)2–8 cm.

Stamens

10, 10–12.5 mm, filaments distinct to 2.5–3 mm, anthers 0.6–0.9 mm.

10, 2.5–3.5 mm, filaments distinct to 0.6–0.9 mm, anthers 0.2–0.3 mm.

Corollas

clear yellow; papilionaceous;

banner 6.3–8.6 mm, blade deltate-cordate, 3–4.2 × 3.2–4.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached near middle of stamen tube;

wings 4.7–5.6 × 2–2.4 mm;

keel connate valvately, blades (4.7–)5–7 × 2.6–3.2 mm.

all pinkish or reddish, or banner paler; papilionaceous;

banner 2.6–3.5 mm, blade ovate or deltate-ovate, 1.4–1.8 × 0.9–1.6 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube;

wings 1.2–1.8(–2) × 0.8–1.1 mm;

keel connate valvately, blades 1.4–1.9 × 0.8–1.1 mm.

Calyces

subsymmetric, 6.1–7.4 mm, silky-pilose;

tube 2.2–2.8 mm, with 3 or 4 small glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate-aristate, becoming plumose.

± asymmetric, not strongly recessed opposite banner, opening oblique, (2.5–)2.8–3.5 mm, pilosulous;

tube (1.3–)2.8–3.5 mm, with 0 or 1(or 2) small glands between ribs, lobes triangular-acuminate or -aristate.

Legumes

3–3.5 mm, distally with 2 rows of ascending hairs on either side of a glabrescent row, eglandular.

2–2.4 mm, pilosulous and, sometimes, gland-dotted distally.

Seeds

2–2.4 mm.

1.5–1.9 mm.

Perennial

herbs, erect, pilose to pilosulous.

Principal

leaves 1–3.5(–4) cm;

leaflets (3 or)5(or 7), blades obovate to oblong-oblanceolate, (3–)4–16(–20) mm.

leaves 1–3.5 cm;

leaflets 3 or 5, blades linear-filiform, 5–23 mm.

Annual

herbs, erect, glabrous or glabrate proximal to inflorescences.

2n

= 14, 24.

= 14.

Dalea aurea

Dalea filiformis

Phenology Flowering summer–early fall. Flowering late summer–fall (spring).
Habitat Open prairies, dry slopes, rocky or sandy areas, on limestone. Open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands, grasslands, rocky soils along roads, disturbed places.
Elevation 10–1800 m. (0–5900 ft.) 1600–2400 m. (5200–7900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; KS; NE; NM; OK; SD; TX; WY; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Dalea aurea is sometimes cultivated in rock gardens or dry soil for its showy flowers with yellow petals. In Texas, the species is quite widespread.

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

Dalea filiformis is distinctive in its relatively few, narrow leaflets. Its range is primarily southeastern and central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, but it does occur in northern Arizona to nearly the Utah border, and there is one report for northern New Mexico in Sandoval 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. albiflora, 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. 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
Synonyms D. ceciliana
Name authority Nuttall ex Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 740. (1813) A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 39. (1853)
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