Pediomelum cuspidatum

Herbs caulescent, to 100+ cm, mostly glandular throughout, strigose becoming glabrate. Stems 1+, decumbent to erect-ascending, much branched, leaves dispersed along stems; pseudoscapes rarely branched, 0–14 cm; cataphylls 0–13 mm. Leaves palmately 3–5-foliolate; stipules persistent, erect to reflexed, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 6–15 × 1–5 mm, glandular, pubescent; petiole enlarged but not jointed basally, often canaliculate, 5–40 mm, sparsely strigose; petiolules 1.5–3.5 mm; leaflet blades oblanceolate to elliptic, oblong, or obovate, 2–4.8 × 0.5–2 cm, base cuneate, apex acute to obtuse or apiculate, surfaces abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous. Peduncles 0.6–15 cm, longer than subtending petiole, strigose. Inflorescences persistent, ellipsoid to elongate; rachis 1.5–8.5 cm, nodes (2–)6–17, 3 flowers per node, internodes to 13 mm; bracts persistent, erect to reflexed, lanceolate, 4–17 × 1–6 mm, glandular, pubescent. Pedicels 2–3 mm. Flowers 12–22 mm; calyx strongly gibbous-campanulate in fruit, 9–15 mm abaxially, 8–12 mm adaxially, glandular, pubescent; tube 4–5.5 mm; abaxial lobe lanceolate to elliptic, 8–19 × 2–3.5 mm, adaxial lobes lanceolate, 4–7 × 1–1.5 mm; corolla blue, purple, or violet, banner broadly oblanceolate to obovate, 13–21 × 7–8 mm with claw 4–6 mm, wings 12–18.5 × 3–4 mm with claw 4–7.5 mm, keel 9–13 × 4–7 mm with claw 2.5–3 mm; filaments 8–12 mm; anthers elliptic, 0.5–0.6 mm; ovary glabrous or pubescent and glandular on distal 1/4–1/3, style pubescent basally. Legumes ovoid to obovate, 6–8 × 4–4.5 mm, glandular, pubescent distally, beak 1.5–2 mm, shorter than calyx. Seed reddish brown, reniform to globose, 3.5–4 × 4.5–5 mm.

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Grasslands, meadows, woodlands.
Elevation: 50–1500 m.

Distribution

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Colo., Kans., Mont., Nebr., Okla., S.Dak., Tex.

Discussion

Pediomelum cuspidatum is one of the larger species in the genus, in spite of its procumbent habit with erect-ascending, copious lateral branches. Horizontal stems are often bicolored, purple adaxially and light green abaxially. It is variable, particularly in plant height, flower length, and inflorescence length.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.