FNA: Dalea ornata vs. Dalea greggii

	Dalea ornata	Dalea greggii
	Blue Mountain prairie-clover, ornate dalea, western prairie clover	Gregg's dalea, Gregg's prairie clover
Habit		Subshrubs, horizontal-spreading, mat-forming, at least young foliage silky-pilosulous.
Stems	(2–)2.5–6(–7) dm, dotted with small, raised glands.	procumbent or arching, often rooting along stems, 3–5(–20+) dm, eglandular or glandular-verruculose distally.
Inflorescences	spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, 13–16 mm diam.; axis not visible, (1–)1.5–5 cm; bracts deciduous, interfloral ones often held in place by crowded flowers, (3–)4–7.5(–8.5) mm.	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.
Peduncles	1–11 cm.	0–4(–6) cm.
Stamens	5, (7.3–)7.7–12 mm, filaments distinct to (3.6–)4.7–7.6 mm, anthers 1–1.4 mm.	10, 5.5–7.5 mm, filaments distinct to 1.7–2.4 mm, anthers 0.5–0.7 mm.
Corollas	usually rose-purple to lilac, rarely white; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner 7–9 mm, blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 3.3–4.5 × (2–)2.3–4 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades (3.3–)3.5–5 × 1.4–2 mm.	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.
Calyces	subsymmetric, (3.6–)3.9–6.3(–6.7) mm, pilose throughout or distally; tube (2.4–)2.7–3.6(–3.8) mm, with 2–9 small glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate to ovate.	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.
Legumes	3–3.5 mm, pilosulous distally and gland-dotted.	2.1–2.8 mm, pilosulous and gland-dotted distally.
Seeds	2–2.4 mm.	1.6–2 mm.
Perennial	herbs, erect, glabrous proximal to inflorescence.
Principal	leaves 2.5–5.5(–6.5) cm; leaflets 5 or 7 (or 9), blades oblanceolate to obovate, 7–22 mm.	leaves 0.6–2.5(–3) cm; leaflets 5–9, blades obovate to oblanceolate, 2–7(–9) mm.
2n	= 14.	= 14 (Mexico).

	Dalea ornata	Dalea greggii
Phenology	Flowering spring–early summer.	Flowering spring, fall, (year-round).
Habitat	Rocky, sandy, or clay soils in dry areas, often among sagebrush.	Rocky slopes, deserts, open woodlands, limestone soils.
Elevation	100–2000 m. (300–6600 ft.)	600–1400 m. (2000–4600 ft.)
Distribution	CA; ID; NV; OR; WA [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	AZ; NM; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, south as far as Oaxaca) [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Dalea ornata is nearly endemic to the Columbia-Snake river basin. In California, the species is known only from the Shaffer Mountain region in Lassen County. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)	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.)
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. 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. 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. 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	Petalostemon ornatus
Name authority	(Douglas) Eaton & Wright: Man. Bot. ed. 8, 219. (1840) — (as ornatum)	A. Gray: Pl. Nov. Thurb., 314. (1854)
Web links	Local floras: CA, OR, WA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 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 ornata

Dalea greggii

Blue Mountain prairie-clover, ornate dalea, western prairie clover

Gregg's dalea, Gregg's prairie clover

Habit

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

Stems

(2–)2.5–6(–7) dm, dotted with small, raised glands.

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

Inflorescences

spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, 13–16 mm diam.;

axis not visible, (1–)1.5–5 cm;

bracts deciduous, interfloral ones often held in place by crowded flowers, (3–)4–7.5(–8.5) mm.

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.

Peduncles

1–11 cm.

0–4(–6) cm.

Stamens

5, (7.3–)7.7–12 mm, filaments distinct to (3.6–)4.7–7.6 mm, anthers 1–1.4 mm.

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

Corollas

usually rose-purple to lilac, rarely white;

not conventionally papilionaceous;

banner 7–9 mm, blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 3.3–4.5 × (2–)2.3–4 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades (3.3–)3.5–5 × 1.4–2 mm.

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.

Calyces

subsymmetric, (3.6–)3.9–6.3(–6.7) mm, pilose throughout or distally;

tube (2.4–)2.7–3.6(–3.8) mm, with 2–9 small glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate to ovate.

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.

Legumes

3–3.5 mm, pilosulous distally and gland-dotted.

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

Seeds

2–2.4 mm.

1.6–2 mm.

Perennial

herbs, erect, glabrous proximal to inflorescence.

Principal

leaves 2.5–5.5(–6.5) cm;

leaflets 5 or 7 (or 9), blades oblanceolate to obovate, 7–22 mm.

leaves 0.6–2.5(–3) cm;

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

= 14.

= 14 (Mexico).

Dalea ornata

Dalea greggii

Phenology

Flowering spring–early summer.

Flowering spring, fall, (year-round).

Habitat

Rocky, sandy, or clay soils in dry areas, often among sagebrush.

Rocky slopes, deserts, open woodlands, limestone soils.

Elevation

100–2000 m. (300–6600 ft.)

600–1400 m. (2000–4600 ft.)

Distribution

CA; ID; NV; OR; WA

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

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

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Dalea ornata is nearly endemic to the Columbia-Snake river basin. In California, the species is known only from the Shaffer Mountain region in Lassen County.

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

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.)

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. 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. 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. 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

Petalostemon ornatus

Name authority

(Douglas) Eaton & Wright: Man. Bot. ed. 8, 219. (1840) — (as ornatum)

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

Web links

Local floras: CA, OR, WA
Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog.
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database
LBJ Wildflower Center
SEINet
Plants of the World Online
Encyclopedia of Life
Wikipedia
Google Image Search

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).

Choose a data source: Flora of North America, OregonFlora, UW Burke Herbarium

The species comparison tool is brought to you by:

Flora of North America species comparison

Dalea ornata

Dalea greggii

Dalea ornata

Dalea greggii