Herbs from slender, elongate woody taproot, usually pro­ducing filiform rhizomes at nodes, these producing subter­ranean flowers and 1-seeded fruits. Stems procumbent, not twining, proximally lignescent, moderately strigose, hairs loosely appressed, retrorse. Leaflets 3, blades broadly oblong to oblong-obovate, oblong-elliptic, or suborbiculate, 11–35(–42) × 8–30(–35) mm, herbaceous, veins not raised, apex rounded to flat or shallowly retuse, surfaces blue-green glaucous and densely strigose abaxially, sparsely strigose adaxially with closely appressed hairs. Inflorescences: flowers 5–8 in pseudoracemes; axis 60–120 mm. Flowers: calyx 5–8 mm, hirsute to strigose-hirsute; corolla pink to pink-red or light purple, 9–11 mm. Legumes straight or slightly curved, 30–50 × 6–9 mm, densely strigose-sericeous. Seeds 1–5.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Oct.
Habitat: Sandy prairies, dunes, sand mounds, sandy roadsides, disturbed sites, sandy loam, alluvial sands.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Distribution

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Tex., Mexico (Tamaulipas).

Discussion

Galactia canescens is characterized by its prostrate, strigose stems rooting at the nodes, slender rhizomes often bearing subterranean flowers and fruits, and broadly oblong to suborbiculate leaflets with glaucous and densely strigose abaxial surfaces. It is found in more than 20 counties in Texas.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.