Dalea searlsiae
Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 27: 234. 1977.
Perennial herbs, erect, pilosulous throughout or glabrous proximal to inflorescence. Stems (2.5–)3–5.5 dm, glandular-tuberculate. Principal leaves 2–5.5 cm; leaflets 5 or 7(or 9), blades flat or folded, oblanceolate to obovate, 7–20 mm, surfaces glandular-tuberculate abaxially. Peduncles (2.5–)4–16(–20) cm. Inflorescences spikes, relatively densely flowered, not obviously involucrate, (8–)9–11 mm diam.; axis partially visible at anthesis, (1.5–)2–9(–14) cm; bracts deciduous, 3–5(–6) mm. Calyces asymmetric, deeply recessed opposite banner, opening oblique, (3.2–)3.5–4.6(–4.8) mm, glabrous or pilosulous proximally, pilosulous distally; tube 2–2.8 mm, with (0 or)2–4 small, pale blister glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate-subulate or adaxial pair triangular-ovate. Corollas usually rose-purple, rarely white; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner 5.3–7.2 mm, blade ovate to ovate-triangular or -oblong, 2.8–3.7 × 2.2–3.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades (2.7–)3–4.1 × (0.9–)1.1–1.6 mm. Stamens 5, 5.5–8.5 mm, filaments distinct to 3–5.1 mm, anthers 1.1–1.5 mm. Legumes 3.2–4 mm, pilosulous to ± glabrous distally and gland-dotted. Seeds 2–2.8 mm.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Rocky or sandy slopes or washes, among pine, juniper, or oak, sometimes in desert scrub.
Elevation: 1100–2000 m.
Distribution
Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah.
Discussion
The ranges of Dalea searlsiae and D. flavescens overlap only in a small area of south-central Utah and north-central Arizona. In California, D. searlsiae is known from the Inyo and White mountains and other desert mountains in the southeastern part of the state.
Selected References
None.