FNA: Dalea pulchra vs. Dalea filiformis

	Dalea pulchra	Dalea filiformis
	Santa Catalina prairie-clover	Sonoran prairie-clover
Habit	Shrubs, relatively erect, stiffly-branching, silky- or velvety-pubescent distally.
Stems	5–10 dm, verruculose distally.	(0.4–)0.7–3(–3.5) dm, eglandular.
Inflorescences	spikes, densely flowered, obviously involucrate (proximalmost several whorls of bracts subtending rudimentary buds), 11.5–16 mm diam.; axis not visible, 0.4–0.7 cm; bracts deciduous, interfloral ones sometimes held in place by crowded flowers, 2–6.5 mm.	spikes, relatively densely flowered, not involucrate, 5–7 mm diam.; axis not to partially visible, (0.2–)0.3–1.5(–2) cm; bracts early deciduous, 1.5–2.8 mm.
Peduncles	0–1 cm.	(1.3–)2–8 cm.
Stamens	10, 7.5–9 mm, filaments distinct to 1.8–2.8 mm, anthers 0.6–0.7 mm.	10, 2.5–3.5 mm, filaments distinct to 0.6–0.9 mm, anthers 0.2–0.3 mm.
Corollas	bicolored, banner cream, reddish in age, epistemonous petals pink-purple; papilionaceous; banner 6–7.5 mm, blade ovate- or deltate-cordate, 2.8–4.2 × 3.4–4.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube; wings 4.1–5 × 2–2.6 mm; keel connate valvately, blades 5.2–6.8 × 3–3.5 mm.	all pinkish or reddish, or banner paler; papilionaceous; banner 2.6–3.5 mm, blade ovate or deltate-ovate, 1.4–1.8 × 0.9–1.6 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube; wings 1.2–1.8(–2) × 0.8–1.1 mm; keel connate valvately, blades 1.4–1.9 × 0.8–1.1 mm.
Calyces	asymmetric, recessed opposite banner, (4.5–)4.8–7.2 mm, densely pilose; tube 2.4–3.4 mm, hyaline intervals usually with row of inconspicuous blister glands between ribs (or eglandular), lobes triangular-aristate, spurred laterally near proximal end, unequal, abaxial longest.	± asymmetric, not strongly recessed opposite banner, opening oblique, (2.5–)2.8–3.5 mm, pilosulous; tube (1.3–)2.8–3.5 mm, with 0 or 1(or 2) small glands between ribs, lobes triangular-acuminate or -aristate.
Legumes	2.5–3 mm, densely pubescent distally, eglandular.	2–2.4 mm, pilosulous and, sometimes, gland-dotted distally.
Seeds	1.5–1.8 mm.	1.5–1.9 mm.
Principal	leaves 0.5–1.5 cm; leaflets 5 or 7(or 9), blades obovate to oblanceolate, 1.5–5 mm.	leaves 1–3.5 cm; leaflets 3 or 5, blades linear-filiform, 5–23 mm.
Annual		herbs, erect, glabrous or glabrate proximal to inflorescences.
2n	= 14.	= 14.

	Dalea pulchra	Dalea filiformis
Phenology	Flowering spring.	Flowering late summer–fall (spring).
Habitat	Sandy to gravelly or rocky grasslands, open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands, desert scrub.	Open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands, grasslands, rocky soils along roads, disturbed places.
Elevation	900–1400 m. (3000–4600 ft.)	1600–2400 m. (5200–7900 ft.)
Distribution	AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora) [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora) [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Plants of Dalea pulchra are attractive in flower. The spikes shatter quickly at anthesis; legumes and seeds are seldom seen. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)	Dalea filiformis is distinctive in its relatively few, narrow leaflets. Its range is primarily southeastern and central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, but it does occur in northern Arizona to nearly the Utah border, and there is one report for northern New Mexico in Sandoval County. (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. ornata, D. phleoides, D. pinnata, D. pogonathera, D. polygonoides, D. pringlei, 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. 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
Name authority	Gentry: Madroño 10: 227, plate 14. (1950)	A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 39. (1853)
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 filiformis

Santa Catalina prairie-clover

Sonoran prairie-clover

Habit

Shrubs, relatively erect, stiffly-branching, silky- or velvety-pubescent distally.

Stems

5–10 dm, verruculose distally.

(0.4–)0.7–3(–3.5) dm, eglandular.

Inflorescences

spikes, densely flowered, obviously involucrate (proximalmost several whorls of bracts subtending rudimentary buds), 11.5–16 mm diam.;

axis not visible, 0.4–0.7 cm;

bracts deciduous, interfloral ones sometimes held in place by crowded flowers, 2–6.5 mm.

spikes, relatively densely flowered, not involucrate, 5–7 mm diam.;

axis not to partially visible, (0.2–)0.3–1.5(–2) cm;

bracts early deciduous, 1.5–2.8 mm.

Peduncles

0–1 cm.

(1.3–)2–8 cm.

Stamens

10, 7.5–9 mm, filaments distinct to 1.8–2.8 mm, anthers 0.6–0.7 mm.

10, 2.5–3.5 mm, filaments distinct to 0.6–0.9 mm, anthers 0.2–0.3 mm.

Corollas

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

banner 6–7.5 mm, blade ovate- or deltate-cordate, 2.8–4.2 × 3.4–4.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube;

wings 4.1–5 × 2–2.6 mm;

keel connate valvately, blades 5.2–6.8 × 3–3.5 mm.

all pinkish or reddish, or banner paler; papilionaceous;

banner 2.6–3.5 mm, blade ovate or deltate-ovate, 1.4–1.8 × 0.9–1.6 mm; epistemonous petals attached proximal to middle of stamen tube;

wings 1.2–1.8(–2) × 0.8–1.1 mm;

keel connate valvately, blades 1.4–1.9 × 0.8–1.1 mm.

Calyces

asymmetric, recessed opposite banner, (4.5–)4.8–7.2 mm, densely pilose;

tube 2.4–3.4 mm, hyaline intervals usually with row of inconspicuous blister glands between ribs (or eglandular), lobes triangular-aristate, spurred laterally near proximal end, unequal, abaxial longest.

± asymmetric, not strongly recessed opposite banner, opening oblique, (2.5–)2.8–3.5 mm, pilosulous;

tube (1.3–)2.8–3.5 mm, with 0 or 1(or 2) small glands between ribs, lobes triangular-acuminate or -aristate.

Legumes

2.5–3 mm, densely pubescent distally, eglandular.

2–2.4 mm, pilosulous and, sometimes, gland-dotted distally.

Seeds

1.5–1.8 mm.

1.5–1.9 mm.

Principal

leaves 0.5–1.5 cm;

leaflets 5 or 7(or 9), blades obovate to oblanceolate, 1.5–5 mm.

leaves 1–3.5 cm;

leaflets 3 or 5, blades linear-filiform, 5–23 mm.

Annual

herbs, erect, glabrous or glabrate proximal to inflorescences.

= 14.

Dalea pulchra

Dalea filiformis

Phenology

Flowering spring.

Flowering late summer–fall (spring).

Habitat

Sandy to gravelly or rocky grasslands, open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands, desert scrub.

Open oak, juniper, or pine woodlands, grasslands, rocky soils along roads, disturbed places.

Elevation

900–1400 m. (3000–4600 ft.)

1600–2400 m. (5200–7900 ft.)

Distribution

AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora)

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora)

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Plants of Dalea pulchra are attractive in flower. The spikes shatter quickly at anthesis; legumes and seeds are seldom seen.

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

Dalea filiformis is distinctive in its relatively few, narrow leaflets. Its range is primarily southeastern and central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, but it does occur in northern Arizona to nearly the Utah border, and there is one report for northern New Mexico in Sandoval County.

(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. ornata, D. phleoides, D. pinnata, D. pogonathera, D. polygonoides, D. pringlei, 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. 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

Name authority

Gentry: Madroño 10: 227, plate 14. (1950)

A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 39. (1853)

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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Dalea pulchra

Dalea filiformis

Dalea pulchra

Dalea filiformis