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Hedysarum occidentale

western hedysarum, western sweet-vetch

Stems

decumbent to erect, (1.2–)2–9.5 dm.

Leaves

3.5–23 cm;

stipules 10–17 mm;

leaflets 9–19, blades lanceolate to ovate, elliptic, or oblong, 5–40 × 3–16 mm, veins conspicuous, surfaces usually pubescent, rarely glabrous adaxially.

Racemes

10–50-flowered, axis 4–25 cm in fruit;

bracts 1–4 mm.

Peduncles

(3–)6–15 cm.

Pedicels

1–3.5 mm.

Flowers

usually declined at anthesis;

calyx 3.5–11 mm;

tube 3–9 mm, puberulent;

lobes subulate to triangular, 0.5–2 mm, equal or nearly so;

corolla usually lavender-pink or lilac- to pink-purple, rarely white, 16–25 mm;

wing auricles connate, linear, nearly equal or equal to claw.

Loments

segments (1 or)2–5, 7–14.5(–18) × 5.6–10.2(–11) mm, margins conspicuously winged, prominently reticulate, pubescent or glabrous.

Hedysarum occidentale

Distribution
from USDA
w North America
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

Key
1. Leaflet blades usually 2–4 times longer than wide, not or rarely thickened, not especially deciduous; flowers 16–22 mm, usually lilac- to pink-purple, rarely white; widespread.
var. occidentale
1. Leaflet blades mostly 1–2 times longer than wide, becoming thickened, early deciduous; flowers (17–)20–25 mm, pale lavender-pink; w Colorado, e Utah.
var. canone
Source FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Hedysarum
Sibling taxa
H. alpinum, H. boreale, H. sulphurescens
Subordinate taxa
H. occidentale var. canone, H. occidentale var. occidentale
Name authority Greene: Pittonia 3: 19. (1896)
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