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hoffmanseggia, hog potato, Indian rushpea, pig-nut

creeping nicker, creeping rush-pea

Habit Herbs, 5–30(–50) cm; from deep taproot, producing round, tuberlike spheres to 2 cm. Herbs, 9–15 cm; from woody caudex, with spreading, underground rhizomes.
Leaves

38–150 ×13–42 mm;

stipules ovate, 1.5–4 × 1.5–3 mm, ciliate;

pinnae 4–13;

leaflets 7–27 per pinna, blades obtuse-ovate, 2–6 × 1–4.5 mm, surfaces strigose abaxially, glabrous adaxially.

2–10 × 24–30 mm;

stipules ovate, 3–5.5 × 1.5–4 mm, pubescent;

pinnae 3–9;

leaflets 9–15 per pinna, blades obtuse-oblong, 5–9 × 2–4 mm, surfaces puberulent to pubescent abaxially, sparsely pubescent adaxially.

Racemes

4–15-flowered, terminal, 5–23 cm;

rachis and pedicels puberulent to strigose and stipitate-glandular.

10–15-flowered, terminal, 9.7–14 cm;

rachis and pedicels puberulent, eglandular.

Flowers

turning downward, broadly flared, 10–16 × 10–18 mm;

calyx persistent, densely pubescent abaxially, with multicellular, glandular trichomes;

banner yellow, drying pink with red markings, 5–14 × 5 mm, conspicuous multicellular, glandular trichomes on claw and abaxial surface, with few hairs at base of folded claw adaxially;

lateral petals bright yellow, 13 × 6 mm, with multicellular, glandular trichomes on claw margins and base abaxially.

turning downward, broadly opening, 12–15 ×8–13 mm;

calyx persistent, distinct portion 7–11 ×2–5 mm, densely tomentose abaxially, eglandular;

banner bright yellow or orange-yellow with red markings, fading pink to pale orange, 13–15 × 6 mm, glabrous abaxially, with tuft of trichomes at base of claw adaxially;

lateral petals yellow, fading pinkish, 12–13 × 3–6 mm, glabrous abaxially.

Legumes

tan, rectangular to arcuate, sometimes expanded near apex, 20–40 × 5–8 mm, indehiscent, margins ± parallel, obscure, apex obtuse to acute;

valves flat, sparsely tomentose, with a few scattered multicellular, glandular trichomes appearing as brown dots.

often undulate, straight, green turning red, compressed between seeds, broadly oblong or suborbicular in outline, 20–54 ×10–20 mm, indehiscent, margins pronounced, puberulent, apex acute, often with portion of withered style;

valves thin, flat, reticulate, sparsely puberulent.

Seeds

1–10.

1–4(–6).

2n

= 24.

Hoffmannseggia glauca

Hoffmannseggia repens

Phenology Flowering spring. Flowering late spring.
Habitat Disturbed areas. Dunes, sandy soils.
Elevation 0–3000 m. (0–9800 ft.) 900–1900 m. (3000–6200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; KS; NM; OK; TX; Mexico; South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; UT
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Hoffmannseggia glauca is considered a noxious weed in agricultural and pasture lands of the middle and southwestern United States, spreading aggressively by tuberous roots. While it is possible that it was introduced into North America by humans, historical use of the tubers by indigenous people in the American Southwest indicates a long association and, perhaps, natural long-distance dispersal from South America.

Hoffmannseggia falcaria Cavanilles, an illegitimate and superfluous name, pertains here.

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

Hoffmannseggia repens usually flowers in spring but will flower sporadically at other times during wet years.

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

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Caesalpinioideae (excluding Mimosoid clade) > Hoffmannseggia Fabaceae > subfam. Caesalpinioideae (excluding Mimosoid clade) > Hoffmannseggia
Sibling taxa
H. drepanocarpa, H. drummondii, H. microphylla, H. oxycarpa, H. repens, H. tenella
H. drepanocarpa, H. drummondii, H. glauca, H. microphylla, H. oxycarpa, H. tenella
Synonyms Larrea glauca, Caesalpinia falcaria var. capitata, C. falcaria var. pringlei, C. falcaria var. rusbyi, H. densiflora, H. falcaria var. capitata, H. falcaria var. pringlei, H. falcaria var. rusbyi, H. stricta, H. stricta var. demissa Caesalpinia repens, Moparia repens
Name authority (Ortega) Eifert: Sida 5: 43. (1972) — (as Hoffmanseggia) (Eastwood) Cockerell: Muhlenbergia 4: 68. (1908) — (as Hoffmanseggia)
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