Subshrubs, mat-forming or cespitose, diffusely ascending, low, greenish, 1–8 dm, 50–130 dm diam., not fleshy, glabrous or strigose (young foli­age); from woody caudices. Stems 1–20+, procumbent to ± ascending, branched, flexuous-wiry or thick, ± woody, leafy. Leaves irregularly pinnate to subpal­mate, distal mostly 3-foliolate; stipules gland­like; sub­sessile to short-petiolate; rachis 1–8 mm, ± flattened; leaflets 3–5, blades obovate to elliptic, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous or glabrate. Peduncles ascending, (1–)2–12(–25) mm, longer than leaves; bract absent or 1- or 2-foliolate, usually subtending umbel. Inflores­cences 3–10-flowered. Flowers 8–10 mm; calyx 3.5–6 mm, tube sparsely strigillose to glabrate, lobes subulate; corolla white to pinkish (banner) or yellow (wings cream), banner often red-striate or red-backed, keel reddish or purplish, claws shorter than calyx tube, banner reflexed to 90°, wings slightly longer than keel; style upcurved, sparsely strigillose. Legumes persistent, mostly included, divergent or ascending, brown, arched, turgid, not or slightly constricted, not septate, linear-oblong, 7–10 × 1–2 mm, leathery, apex tapering to exserted, slender, curved or straight beak, indehiscent, smooth, margins thickened, smooth, glabrate, beak strigillose. Seeds 1 or 2, olive brown, mottled, subcylindric, smooth.

Phenology: Flowering spring (early fall).
Habitat: Coastal dunes, slopes, and bluffs, cliffs, coastal scrub, chaparral, Monterrey pine forests, exposed slopes, ridges, landslides, gulches, stream banks, sandy or clayey soils, eroded granite, shale, sometimes serpentine outcrops, burnt chaparral, disturbed areas, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

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Calif.

Discussion

Acmispon cytisoides occurs in the Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and Outer South Coast Ranges. D. Isely (1981) reported possible hybrids with A. glaber var. glaber (as Lotus scoparius var. perplexans Hoover).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.