Shrubs, (0.3–)0.6–1.2(–1.5) m; arising from thick, horizontal rootstock. Stems finely longitudinally grooved and ridged, often obscurely gland-dotted, sparsely to densely puberulent, glabrate, or glabrous. Leaves (6–)8–18(–24) cm; stipules sometimes persistent, mostly acicular, (1–)1.2–2.5(–3) mm; petiole (0.5–)1–10(–13) mm, gland-dotted, usually puberulent or strigulose, rarely glabrous; rachis sparsely gland-dotted, often puberulent, sometimes glabrous; leaflets (15–)23–45(–63), stipels acicular to setaceous, (0.4–)0.8–2 mm, petiolule (0.7–)1–2 mm, gland-dotted, usually puberulent, rarely glabrous, blade elliptic to oblong or ovate to suborbiculate, (7–)10–25(–32) × (3–)4–10(–5) mm, base obtuse to round or truncate to subcordate, margins often revolute, entire or inconspicuously crenulate, apex obtuse to round or emarginate, surfaces densely pubescent or glabrous; midvein terminated by a swollen mucro, 0.2–0.8 mm, mucro sessile or short-stalked, glandlike. Racemes (1–)4–12(–20)-branched, (3–)10–18(–40) cm; rachis sparsely gland-dotted, puberulent; bracteoles mostly linear, (1.2–)1.8–2.5(–3) mm, gland-dotted, sparsely hairy. Pedicels (0.2–)0.4–1.2(–1.8) mm, sparsely gland-dotted, puberulent or, sometimes, glabrous. Flowers: calyx tube turbinate to narrowly campanulate or cylindric, 1.5–2.5(–3) mm, distal 1/2–2/3 often gland-dotted, puberulent, short-pilose, strigulose, glabrate, or glabrous; lobes: abaxial lobe narrowly triangular, slightly longer, adaxial lobes triangular or obtuse, (0.4–)0.5–1.2(–1.5) mm; banner white, lavender, or violet, broadly obcordate, (4–)5–6(–7) × (2–)2.5–3.5 mm, distinctly clawed, margins entire or finely erose; filaments 6–8 mm, distinct; anthers yellow to yellowish orange; ovary puberulent or glabrous. Legumes sessile, 4–6 × 1.8–2.5 mm, margins strongly curved outward abaxially, straight to slightly arched adaxially, distal 1/2–2/3 gland-dotted, puberulent or glabrous. Seeds not seen.
Distribution
se United States.
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Shrubs usually densely short-pubescent or puberulent at least distally, sometimes sparsely pubescent or glabrate; calyx tubes densely puberulent or short-pilose; legumes often densely to sparsely puberulent, sometimes proximal 1/3–1/2 glabrous, sometimes glabrous throughout. | Amorpha herbacea var. herbacea |
| 1 | Shrubs usually glabrous or glabrate distally, sometimes sparsely pubescent; calyx tubes often glabrous or glabrate, sometimes strigulose; legumes usually glabrous. | Amorpha herbacea var. floridana |