Hedysarum sulphurescens

Stems ascending to erect, 1–6(–9) dm. Leaves (3–)7–12 cm; stipules 8–15 mm; leaflets (5–)9–17, blades elliptic or lanceolate-oblong, 9–40 × 4.5–15(–21) mm, veins conspicuous, surfaces strigose abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Peduncles 4.5–16 cm. Racemes (6–)10–60-flowered, axis 2.5–22 cm in fruit; bracts 2–6 mm. Pedicels 1–3.5(–4) mm. Flowers usually declined at anthesis; calyx 3–6 mm; tube 1.5–4 mm, puberulent; lobes triangular to subulate, 1–2.5(–3) mm, equal or nearly so; corolla yellow to pale yellow, 14–20 mm; wing auricles connate, linear, nearly equal or equal to claw. Loments: segments 1–4, 7–13 × 5.5–9 mm, margins conspicuously winged, prominently reticulate, glabrous.

Phenology: Flowering late spring–summer.
Habitat: Fescue prairies, aspen parklands, pine or spruce woodlands.
Elevation: 700–2600 m.

Alta., B.C., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Hedysarum sulphurescens is a near ally of H. occidentale, with which it shares a large portion of its range, and from which it differs mainly in flower color. The two taxa are apparently partitioned by subtle habitat differences and seldom occur closely juxtaposed. The morphological differences, though small and of little consequence in other plant groups, seem to support evolutionary processes that keep them separate.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa