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pussyfoot

Stems

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

to 5.5 dm, sparsely dotted with small, raised glands.

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 flowered, not involucrate, (12–)14–20 mm diam.;

axis not visible, 3.5–11 cm;

bracts early deciduous, interfloral ones often held in place by crowded flowers, 5.5–11 mm.

Peduncles

1–7 cm.

0–3(–10) 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.

5, (4.5–)5–6.6 mm, filaments distinct to 1–2.2 mm, anthers 0.6–0.8 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.

white, ochroleucous in drying;

not conventionally papilionaceous;

banner (3.5–)4–7 mm, blade ovate-oblong, (2–)2.2–2.9(–3.1) × 1.2–2 mm; epistemonous petals attached at or just proximal to separation of filaments, blades 2–3.2 × 0.5–0.9 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.

± asymmetric, slightly recessed opposite banner, 3.3–5.8 mm, pilose;

tube (1.3–)1.4–2.1 mm, with 1 or 2 small glands between ribs, lobes triangular-aristate.

Legumes

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

2.7–3 mm, pilosulous distally, eglandular.

Seeds

1.4–1.7 mm.

1.7 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 (2–)2.5–5 cm;

leaflets 7–11, blades obovate, (8–)10–16 mm, surfaces eglandular.

Perennial

herbs, short-lived, erect, ± lanate-pilose.

2n

= 14.

Dalea brachystachys

Dalea obovata

Phenology Flowering late summer–fall (spring). Flowering spring (fall–early winter).
Habitat Dry, open habitats in deserts, desert grasslands, open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands. Sandy, open ground on and near Gulf Coastal Plain.
Elevation 1300–2500 m. (4300–8200 ft.) 0–400 m. (0–1300 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas)
from FNA
TX
[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 obovata occurs in the southern coastal plain of Texas as far north and west as Frio, Medina, and Travis counties.

(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. 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. 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 Petalostemon obovatus
Name authority A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 39. (1853) (Torrey & A. Gray) Shinners: Field & Lab. 17: 84. (1949)
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