FNA: Dalea greggii vs. Dalea frutescens

	Dalea greggii	Dalea frutescens
	Gregg's dalea, Gregg's prairie clover	black dalea, black prairie clover
Habit	Subshrubs, horizontal-spreading, mat-forming, at least young foliage silky-pilosulous.	Shrubs, highly branched, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.
Stems	procumbent or arching, often rooting along stems, 3–5(–20+) dm, eglandular or glandular-verruculose distally.	3–8(–12) dm, glandular-tuberculate distally.
Inflorescences	spikes, relatively densely flowered, not involucrate, 8–11 mm diam.; axis usually not visible, 0.4–3(–5.5) cm; bracts persistent, 2–4 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	0–4(–6) cm.	0.2–4.5(–5) cm.
Stamens	10, 5.5–7.5 mm, filaments distinct to 1.7–2.4 mm, anthers 0.5–0.7 mm.	10, 6.8–8.2 mm, filaments distinct to 1.8–2.7 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm.
Corollas	bicolored, banner cream to pale yellow, reddish in age, epistemonous petals pink to pink-purple; papilionaceous; banner 4.4–6.2 mm, blade deltate-cordate, 2.6–3.5 × 3.2–4.3 mm, proximal lobes connate, forming obconic pit; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube; wings 3.2–4.6 × 1.6–2.4 mm; keel connate valvately, blades 4–4.8(–5.3) × 2.2–3.3 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, (4–)4.2–6 mm, silky-pilosulous; tube (2–)2.2–2.8(–3) mm, usually with 3–8(–10) blister glands between ribs (scattered or in a row), lobes triangular-acuminate to lanceolate or aristate, unequal, abaxial longest.	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	2.1–2.8 mm, pilosulous and gland-dotted distally.	2.8–3.5 mm, glabrous or distally pilosulous, dotted with small glands distally.
Seeds	1.6–2 mm.	1.7–2.3 mm.
Principal	leaves 0.6–2.5(–3) cm; leaflets 5–9, blades obovate to oblanceolate, 2–7(–9) mm.	leaves 1–2 cm; leaflets 9–19(or 21), blades obovate to broadly oblanceolate, 1.5–3.5(–5) mm.
2n	= 14 (Mexico).	= 14.

	Dalea greggii	Dalea frutescens
Phenology	Flowering spring, fall, (year-round).	Flowering late summer–fall (spring).
Habitat	Rocky slopes, deserts, open woodlands, limestone soils.	Rocky ground, desert grasslands, scrub, open juniper or oak woodlands, often on limestone.
Elevation	600–1400 m. (2000–4600 ft.)	200–2300 m. (700–7500 ft.)
Distribution	AZ; NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, south as far as Oaxaca) [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	NM; OK; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas) [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Dalea greggii is cultivated as a ground cover and for erosion control in xeriscaping. In Texas, the species is known from the eastern trans-Pecos and Big Bend regions. (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. 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. 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
Name authority	A. Gray: Pl. Nov. Thurb., 314. (1854)	A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 175. (1850)
Web links	WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database 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

Gregg's dalea, Gregg's prairie clover

black dalea, black prairie clover

Habit

Subshrubs, horizontal-spreading, mat-forming, at least young foliage silky-pilosulous.

Shrubs, highly branched, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.

Stems

procumbent or arching, often rooting along stems, 3–5(–20+) dm, eglandular or glandular-verruculose distally.

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

Inflorescences

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

axis usually not visible, 0.4–3(–5.5) cm;

bracts persistent, 2–4 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

0–4(–6) cm.

0.2–4.5(–5) cm.

Stamens

10, 5.5–7.5 mm, filaments distinct to 1.7–2.4 mm, anthers 0.5–0.7 mm.

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

Corollas

bicolored, banner cream to pale yellow, reddish in age, epistemonous petals pink to pink-purple; papilionaceous;

banner 4.4–6.2 mm, blade deltate-cordate, 2.6–3.5 × 3.2–4.3 mm, proximal lobes connate, forming obconic pit; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube;

wings 3.2–4.6 × 1.6–2.4 mm;

keel connate valvately, blades 4–4.8(–5.3) × 2.2–3.3 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, (4–)4.2–6 mm, silky-pilosulous;

tube (2–)2.2–2.8(–3) mm, usually with 3–8(–10) blister glands between ribs (scattered or in a row), lobes triangular-acuminate to lanceolate or aristate, unequal, abaxial longest.

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

2.1–2.8 mm, pilosulous and gland-dotted distally.

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

Seeds

1.6–2 mm.

1.7–2.3 mm.

Principal

leaves 0.6–2.5(–3) cm;

leaflets 5–9, blades obovate to oblanceolate, 2–7(–9) mm.

leaves 1–2 cm;

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

= 14 (Mexico).

= 14.

Dalea frutescens

Phenology

Flowering spring, fall, (year-round).

Flowering late summer–fall (spring).

Habitat

Rocky slopes, deserts, open woodlands, limestone soils.

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

Elevation

600–1400 m. (2000–4600 ft.)

200–2300 m. (700–7500 ft.)

Distribution

AZ; NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, south as far as Oaxaca)

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

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

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Dalea greggii is cultivated as a ground cover and for erosion control in xeriscaping. In Texas, the species is known from the eastern trans-Pecos and Big Bend regions.

(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. 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. 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

Name authority

A. Gray: Pl. Nov. Thurb., 314. (1854)

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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Flora of North America species comparison

Dalea greggii

Dalea frutescens

Dalea greggii

Dalea frutescens