Perennial herbs, erect to diffusely spreading, glabrous throughout or proximal to inflorescence. Stems 2.5–10 dm, minutely gland-dotted or eglandular. Prin­cipal leaves (1.5–)2–6 cm; leaf­lets 5–9, blades oblong to obovate or narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, (6–)9–35 mm. Peduncles 0–5.5(–7.5) cm. Inflorescences spikes, densely to somewhat loosely flowered, cylindric, not involucrate, 6–9.5(–10) mm diam.; axis visible or not, especially in fruit, (1–)1.5–5.5(–7.5) cm; bracts early deciduous or proximals persistent, interfloral ones held in place by crowded flowers, 2.5–5.5 mm. Calyces subsymmetric, (2.9–)3–4.2(–4.4) mm, pilosulous or tube glabrous; tube 1.9–2.7 mm, not deeply recessed opposite banner, with 1 (or 2) glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate to triangular, ± unequal, abaxial pair longest. Corollas white; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner (4–)4.2–5.7 mm, blade deltate-obovate, 2.3–3.4 × 2.4–3.7(–4.2) mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades 2–3.1 × 1.1–2.6 mm. Stamens 5, (5–)5.2–7.6 mm, filaments distinct to 2.5–4.5 mm, anthers 0.7–1.2 mm. Legumes (2.6–)2.8–4(–4.5) mm, glabrate or distally pilose, with ± prominent, elongated to circular glands on sides. Seeds 1.7–2.3 mm.

Distribution

North America, n Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Varieties candida and oligophylla were treated as separate species by D. K. Wemple (1970) and are fairly well defined. In regions of overlap, var. oligophylla normally occupies higher, drier sites than var. candida.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Dalea candida var. candida, Dalea candida var. oligophylla

Key

1	Spike axis not visible; calyx tube glabrous.	Dalea candida var. candida
1	Spike axis partially visible, especially in fruit; calyx tube usually pubescent, sometimes glabrous.	Dalea candida var. oligophylla