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indigo-bush, Schott's dalea, Schott's indigo-bush

dotted dalea, Nevada dalea

Habit Shrubs. Shrubs.
Stems

1–2.5 dm, eglandular and usually glabrous or sparsely strigulose when young, rarely canescent.

4–10(–15) dm, densely gland-dotted when young, silky-pilosulous, hairs retrorse.

Branches

divaricate;

sterile shoots on shorter lateral branches sharp-tipped.

divaricate;

sterile shoots almost sharp-tipped.

Leaves

unifoliolate or pinnate, (0.7–)1–3 cm;

leaflets 1 (or 3), blades linear, 6–30 mm, terminal leaflet longer than laterals, surfaces usually glabrous with glandular margins abaxially, densely silvery-pubescent adaxially.

pinnate, 0.7–2.7 cm;

leaflets 7–13, blades obovate to suborbiculate, 1–4.5 mm, terminal leaflet shorter than laterals, surfaces with submarginal and apical glands abaxially, glands visible, pubescent.

Racemes

loose;

rachis without thornlike tip in anthesis, 1–9 cm;

bracts triangular-subulate, 0.5–1.3 mm;

bracteoles present.

dense to relatively loose;

rachis not spine-tipped in anthesis, 0.3–3 cm;

bracts lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 1.6–6.5 mm;

bracteoles absent.

Flowers

calyx (4–)4.6–5.7(–6.5) mm, glabrous or strigulose externally, tube (2.8–)3.3–4.3(–4.6) mm, ribs prominent, narrow abaxial intervals each with 1–5 glands in 1 row, broader adaxial intervals each with 1–17 glands in 2 rows, lobes ovate-deltate to triangular, abaxial lobe slightly shorter and narrower;

corolla deep blue, banner with yellow eye;

banner flabellate, (6.4–)7.1–10.5 mm, tapered to cuneate claw, apex retuse;

wings broadly oblong, (6–)7–8.6 × 3–4.2 mm;

keel broadly oblong, (6.1–)6.5–8(–8.8) × 3.7–4.7 mm;

stamens 7–11 mm;

filaments distinct to 3.5–6.5 mm;

anthers 0.9–1.3 mm, connective not gland-tipped.

calyx 3.9–5.3(–8.3) mm, pilosulous throughout or tube glabrous, tube 1.9–2.8(–3) mm, ribs prominent, intervals each with 1 row of 2–6 glands, lobes triangular-lanceolate to lanceolate, abaxial lobe longer;

corolla pink-purple, banner with yellow eye;

banner 4.6–6.1(–6.6) mm, ovate-cordate, ovate, base cordate, apex emarginate, claw linear;

wings oblong, 4–5(–5.4) × 1.5–2.1 mm;

keel obovate, (3.7–)4–5.3 × 2.4–3.7 mm;

stamens 5.2–6.8 mm;

filaments distinct to (1.5–)2–3 mm;

anthers (0.5–)0.6–0.8(–1) mm, connective gland-tipped.

Legumes

obovoid, 7–10 mm, with large, separate glands, puberulent distally.

obliquely obovoid, 2.5 mm, with large glands distally, glabrous proximally, sparsely pilosulous distally.

Seeds

6–8 mm.

2–2.5 mm.

2n

= 20.

Psorothamnus schottii

Psorothamnus polydenius

Phenology Flowering (fall–)late winter–early spring(–late spring).
Habitat Rocky and sandy desert flats, slopes, washes.
Elevation 5–800 m. (0–2600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from USDA
sw United States
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In California, Psorothamnus schottii is known from the Sonoran Desert regions in the very southeastern parts of the state.

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

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

Key
1. Calyx lobes 1.8–2.5 mm.
var. polydenius
1. Calyx lobes 3.6–5.2 mm.
var. jonesii
Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Psorothamnus Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Psorothamnus
Sibling taxa
P. arborescens, P. emoryi, P. fremontii, P. kingii, P. polydenius, P. scoparius, P. spinosus, P. thompsoniae
P. arborescens, P. emoryi, P. fremontii, P. kingii, P. schottii, P. scoparius, P. spinosus, P. thompsoniae
Subordinate taxa
P. polydenius var. jonesii, P. polydenius var. polydenius
Synonyms Dalea schottii Dalea polydenia
Name authority (Torrey) Barneby: Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 27: 31. (1977) (Torrey) Rydberg in N. L. Britton et al.: N. Amer. Fl. 24: 46. (1919) — (as polyadenius)
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