Dalea mollis
Dalea exserta
hairy prairie clover, silky dalea
Mexican prairie clover
1–3.5(–6.5) dm, glandular-tuberculate.
ribbed, (1.5–)5–10(–12) dm, glandular-verrucose distally.
racemes, ± densely flowered, pedicels with black, prickleshaped glands at base and toward apex, not involucrate, 8–14 mm diam.;
axis not visible, (0.5–)1–3.5 cm;
bracts deciduous, (3–)4.5–8 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.
0.2–2.5(–4.5) cm.
(1–)2.5–14 cm.
10, 3.5–5.7 mm, filaments distinct to 2 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm.
8–10, (7.5–)8–11 mm, filaments distinct to 0.1–1.6 mm, anthers 0.4–0.5 mm.
whitish, banner and keel sometimes lilac-tinged; papilionaceous;
banner 3–4.2 mm, blades broadly triangular to suborbiculate-cordate, (1.5–)1.7–2.9 × 2.2–3.2 mm; epistemonous petals attached near or proximal to middle of stamen tube;
wings 2.1–3 × 1.1–1.4 mm;
keel detaching from stamen tube after anthesis, connate by overlapping margins, blades 2.3–3.4 × 1.4–2 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.
± symmetric, 3.3–6.6 mm, pilose;
tube 1.6–2.5 mm, with (1 or)2–6 glands between ribs, lobes triangular or triangular-aristate.
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.
2.2–2.7 mm, pilosulous distally and dotted with small glands.
2.2–2.8 mm, pilosulous distally and dotted with small glands.
1.8–2.2 mm.
1.6–1.8(–2) mm.
herbs, prostrate or decumbent, ± pilose or pilosulous.
herbs, erect, glabrous proximal to inflorescences.
leaves (0.5–)1–3.5 cm;
leaflets (7 or) 9–13 (or 15), blades obovate to obcordate, (2–)3–8 mm, margins ± entire or obscurely undulate.
leaves 3–10 cm;
leaflets 19–37, blades oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 2–9 mm.
= 16 [Mexico].
= 14 (Mexico).
Dalea mollis
Dalea exserta
Some collectors assume that Dalea mollis is perennial; the season of bloom can be long in a good year, and individual plants can be robust. Most of the fall and early-winter plants are collected in early bloom; an occasional plant from that time-period is taken in late bloom. Dalea mollis is similar to D. mollissima and mixed collections are relatively common. In California, D. mollis is known from the desert regions in the southeastern part of the state.
(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.)
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
