Dalea candida
Dalea exserta
white prairie-clover
Mexican prairie clover
2.5–10 dm, minutely gland-dotted or eglandular.
ribbed, (1.5–)5–10(–12) dm, glandular-verrucose distally.
spikes, densely to somewhat loosely flowered, cylindric, not involucrate, 6–9.5(–10) mm diam.;
axis visible or not, especially in fruit, (1–)1.5–5.5(–7.5) cm;
bracts early deciduous or proximals persistent, interfloral ones held in place by crowded flowers, 2.5–5.5 mm.
spikes, relatively densely flowered, not involucrate, 13–16 mm diam.;
axis usually not visible, (1.5–)2–8 cm;
bracts deciduous by anthesis, (3–)4–8 mm.
0–5.5(–7.5) cm.
(1–)2.5–14 cm.
5, (5–)5.2–7.6 mm, filaments distinct to 2.5–4.5 mm, anthers 0.7–1.2 mm.
8–10, (7.5–)8–11 mm, filaments distinct to 0.1–1.6 mm, anthers 0.4–0.5 mm.
white;
not conventionally papilionaceous;
banner (4–)4.2–5.7 mm, blade deltate-obovate, 2.3–3.4 × 2.4–3.7(–4.2) mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades 2–3.1 × 1.1–2.6 mm.
white, sometimes banner purplish in age;
not conventionally papilionaceous;
banner 4.9–7.3 mm, blade lanceolate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, 3–4.8 × 2.2–2.3 mm; epistemonous petals attached near or proximal to middle of stamen tube, blades somewhat unequal, laterals (2–)3.4–5 × 1–1.8 mm, abaxials 3–3.7 × 1.1–1.6 mm.
subsymmetric, (2.9–)3–4.2(–4.4) mm, pilosulous or tube glabrous;
tube 1.9–2.7 mm, not deeply recessed opposite banner, with 1 (or 2) glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate to triangular, ± unequal, abaxial pair longest.
asymmetric, recessed opposite banner, 4.8–7 mm, glabrous;
tube (2.5–)2.7–3.8 mm, with 2–4(–8) large glands between ribs, lobes triangular-aristate.
(2.6–)2.8–4(–4.5) mm, glabrate or distally pilose, with ± prominent, elongated to circular glands on sides.
2.2–2.8 mm, pilosulous distally and dotted with small glands.
1.7–2.3 mm.
1.6–1.8(–2) mm.
herbs, erect to diffusely spreading, glabrous throughout or proximal to inflorescence.
leaves (1.5–)2–6 cm;
leaflets 5–9, blades oblong to obovate or narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, (6–)9–35 mm.
leaves 3–10 cm;
leaflets 19–37, blades oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 2–9 mm.
herbs, erect, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.
= 14 (Mexico).
Dalea candida
Dalea exserta
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Varieties candida and oligophylla were treated as separate species by D. K. Wemple (1970) and are fairly well defined. In regions of overlap, var. oligophylla normally occupies higher, drier sites than var. candida.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The existence of Dalea exserta in the flora area rests on specimens collected in 1939 by Goodding in Sycamore Canyon, near Ruby in Santa Cruz County. Because it is an annual that often grows in disturbed ground, it may be found again there or at some other locality in southern Arizona.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Spike axis not visible; calyx tube glabrous. | var. candida |
1. Spike axis partially visible, especially in fruit; calyx tube usually pubescent, sometimes glabrous. | var. oligophylla |
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