Thermopsis macrophylla
Bot. Beechey Voy., 329. 1838.
Herbs robust, 12–23 dm, tomentose. Stems thick, erect, solitary or few-clustered, several-branched, from woody rootstock; branches ascending at 45º, moderately zigzag. Leaves: stipules persistent, widely ovate, 3–9 × 2–6 cm, base amplexicaul to cordate, apex acuminate; petiole 2–5(–7) cm; leaflet blades elliptic, 4–10 × 2–5 cm, lateral veins 6–8 pairs, not conspicuously net-veined abaxially, apex acute, surfaces villous. Peduncles 8–15 cm; bracts persistent, ovate to lanceolate, 8–10 × 3–5 mm. Racemes 30–90-flowered, 25–60 cm; flowers in whorls of 3–5. Pedicels 2.5–4 mm, villous. Flowers 1.7–2.2 cm; calyx 7–9 × 7–8 mm at limb, lobes 3–4 mm, equal to or shorter than tube; wing petals elliptic, keel petals obovate; ovary velutinous; ovules 7–9. Legumes erect, straight, 3.5–5 × 0.5–0.7 cm, villous. Seeds 5–7, brown-black, widely elliptic, 4–5 × 2.5–3 mm, short-beaked. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Sandy granitic soils.
Elevation: 1000–1400 m.
Distribution
Calif.
Discussion
Thermopsis macrophylla is known only from the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County; it is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
Selected References
None.