FNA: Dalea brachystachys vs. Dalea frutescens

	Dalea brachystachys	Dalea frutescens
		black dalea, black prairie clover
Habit		Shrubs, highly branched, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.
Stems	(0.5–)1–3.5(–4) dm, eglandular or sparsely glandular-verruculose.	3–8(–12) dm, glandular-tuberculate distally.
Inflorescences	spikes, densely flowered, not obviously involucrate, 8–11 mm diam.; axis not to partially visible, 0.3–1.6 cm; bracts deciduous near anthesis, 2.5–6 mm.	spikes, densely or loosely flowered, not involucrate, 8–11 mm diam.; axis usually not visible, 0.2–2.5 cm; bracts deciduous, 2.2–3.4(–4.5) mm.
Peduncles	1–7 cm.	0.2–4.5(–5) cm.
Stamens	(9 or)10, 3.5–5.5 mm, filaments distinct to 1–1.4(–2) mm, anthers 0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm.	10, 6.8–8.2 mm, filaments distinct to 1.8–2.7 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm.
Corollas	clear yellow, pinkish or brownish in age; papilionaceous; banner 2–3.4(–6) mm, blade deltate-ovate or cordate, 1–2 × 1–2 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube; wings 1–2(–2.9) × 0.7–1.1(–1.8) mm; keel connate valvately, blades 1.8–2.8(–3.8) × 1.3–2(–2.4) mm.	usually bicolored, rarely all white, banner whitish with yellowish eye, reddish in age, epistemonous petals vivid pink-purple; papilionaceous; banner 5.1–6.2 mm, blade ovate-cordate, 3.2–4.2 × 3.4–4.6 mm, proximal lobes connate, forming obconic pit; epistemonous petals attached near or proximal to middle of stamen tube; wings 4.3–5.2 × 2.7–3 mm; keel connate valvately, blades (5–)5.3–6.5 × 3.3–3.9 mm.
Calyces	subsymmetric, (3.5–)4.4–5.8(–6) mm, pilose; tube 1.5–2.1 mm, with (0–)3 glands between ribs, lobes triangular-aristate.	subsymmetric, 3.8–4.2 mm, glabrous; tube 2.6–3.2(–3.5) mm, usually with 3–5(–7) glands between ribs, lobes broadly triangular to triangular-acuminate, unequal, abaxial longest.
Legumes	2.3–2.6 mm, pilosulous and, sometimes, gland-dotted distally.	2.8–3.5 mm, glabrous or distally pilosulous, dotted with small glands distally.
Seeds	1.4–1.7 mm.	1.7–2.3 mm.
Annual	herbs (monocarpic), erect or diffuse, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.
Principal	leaves 0.8–2.5(–3) cm; leaflets (3 or)5–11, blades oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 2–14(–16) mm.	leaves 1–2 cm; leaflets 9–19(or 21), blades obovate to broadly oblanceolate, 1.5–3.5(–5) mm.
2n	= 14.	= 14.

	Dalea brachystachys	Dalea frutescens
Phenology	Flowering late summer–fall (spring).	Flowering late summer–fall (spring).
Habitat	Dry, open habitats in deserts, desert grasslands, open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands.	Rocky ground, desert grasslands, scrub, open juniper or oak woodlands, often on limestone.
Elevation	1300–2500 m. (4300–8200 ft.)	200–2300 m. (700–7500 ft.)
Distribution	AZ; NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas)	NM; OK; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas) [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Dalea brachystachys is found as far south as southeastern Puebla. In the flora area, it is most common in extreme southeastern Arizona and adjacent southwestern New Mexico, with scattered populations through much of both states. Unlike most annual Dalea species, it is rarely weedy. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)	Dalea frutescens is reported to be palatable for livestock and to decline under grazing pressure. In Texas, the species is widespread away from the coastal areas and generally from the Edwards Plateau westward to the trans-Pecos region. (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. aurea, D. bartonii, D. bicolor, 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. 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. lemmonii
Name authority	A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 39. (1853)	A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 175. (1850)
Web links	WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Dalea frutescens

black dalea, black prairie clover

Habit

Shrubs, highly branched, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.

Stems

(0.5–)1–3.5(–4) dm, eglandular or sparsely glandular-verruculose.

3–8(–12) dm, glandular-tuberculate distally.

Inflorescences

spikes, densely flowered, not obviously involucrate, 8–11 mm diam.;

axis not to partially visible, 0.3–1.6 cm;

bracts deciduous near anthesis, 2.5–6 mm.

spikes, densely or loosely flowered, not involucrate, 8–11 mm diam.;

axis usually not visible, 0.2–2.5 cm;

bracts deciduous, 2.2–3.4(–4.5) mm.

Peduncles

1–7 cm.

0.2–4.5(–5) cm.

Stamens

(9 or)10, 3.5–5.5 mm, filaments distinct to 1–1.4(–2) mm, anthers 0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm.

10, 6.8–8.2 mm, filaments distinct to 1.8–2.7 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm.

Corollas

clear yellow, pinkish or brownish in age; papilionaceous;

banner 2–3.4(–6) mm, blade deltate-ovate or cordate, 1–2 × 1–2 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube;

wings 1–2(–2.9) × 0.7–1.1(–1.8) mm;

keel connate valvately, blades 1.8–2.8(–3.8) × 1.3–2(–2.4) mm.

usually bicolored, rarely all white, banner whitish with yellowish eye, reddish in age, epistemonous petals vivid pink-purple; papilionaceous;

banner 5.1–6.2 mm, blade ovate-cordate, 3.2–4.2 × 3.4–4.6 mm, proximal lobes connate, forming obconic pit; epistemonous petals attached near or proximal to middle of stamen tube;

wings 4.3–5.2 × 2.7–3 mm;

keel connate valvately, blades (5–)5.3–6.5 × 3.3–3.9 mm.

Calyces

subsymmetric, (3.5–)4.4–5.8(–6) mm, pilose;

tube 1.5–2.1 mm, with (0–)3 glands between ribs, lobes triangular-aristate.

subsymmetric, 3.8–4.2 mm, glabrous;

tube 2.6–3.2(–3.5) mm, usually with 3–5(–7) glands between ribs, lobes broadly triangular to triangular-acuminate, unequal, abaxial longest.

Legumes

2.3–2.6 mm, pilosulous and, sometimes, gland-dotted distally.

2.8–3.5 mm, glabrous or distally pilosulous, dotted with small glands distally.

Seeds

1.4–1.7 mm.

1.7–2.3 mm.

Annual

herbs (monocarpic), erect or diffuse, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.

Principal

leaves 0.8–2.5(–3) cm;

leaflets (3 or)5–11, blades oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 2–14(–16) mm.

leaves 1–2 cm;

leaflets 9–19(or 21), blades obovate to broadly oblanceolate, 1.5–3.5(–5) mm.

= 14.

Dalea frutescens

Phenology

Flowering late summer–fall (spring).

Habitat

Dry, open habitats in deserts, desert grasslands, open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands.

Rocky ground, desert grasslands, scrub, open juniper or oak woodlands, often on limestone.

Elevation

1300–2500 m. (4300–8200 ft.)

200–2300 m. (700–7500 ft.)

Distribution

AZ; NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas)

NM; OK; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas)

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Dalea brachystachys is found as far south as southeastern Puebla. In the flora area, it is most common in extreme southeastern Arizona and adjacent southwestern New Mexico, with scattered populations through much of both states. Unlike most annual Dalea species, it is rarely weedy.

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

Dalea frutescens is reported to be palatable for livestock and to decline under grazing pressure. In Texas, the species is widespread away from the coastal areas and generally from the Edwards Plateau westward to the trans-Pecos region.

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

Source

FNA vol. 11.

Parent taxa

Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Dalea

Sibling taxa

D. albiflora, D. aurea, D. bartonii, D. bicolor, 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. 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. lemmonii

Name authority

A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 39. (1853)

A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 175. (1850)

Web links

Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).

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Dalea brachystachys

Dalea frutescens

Dalea brachystachys

Dalea frutescens