Plants decumbent, loosely mat-forming. Stems and herbage strigulose, hairs basifixed or obscurely malpighian. Leaves (0.7–)1–2.5 cm; stipules dimor­phic, those at proximal nodes connate into short, bidentate sheath, those at distal nodes longer, connate at base only, lanceolate or lanceolate-acuminate, often without spines, 2–7 mm; leaflets 5 or 7, blades 7–12 mm, sur­faces pubescent abaxially, glabrous or glabrescent adaxially. Peduncles subobsolete to 0.2 cm. Flowers 4–5.5 mm; calyx 3.4–4 mm, tube 1.9–2.4 mm, lobes subulate to setaceous, 1.4–2 mm; corolla whitish. Legumes subsymmetrically ovoid-lenticular, (3.5–)4–7 × 2.4–3.8 mm. Seeds 2 or 3(or 4). 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat: Bluffs, dunes, gullied ridges in badlands.
Elevation: 1200–1600 m.

Distribution

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Alta., Sask., Colo., Mont., Nebr., N.Dak., S.Dak., Wyo.

Discussion

Variety kentrophyta is a taxon of the High Plains from southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan through eastern Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, the western Dakotas, and western Nebraska.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.