Pediomelum piedmontanum
M. W. Morris & A. N. Egan, Sida 22: 229, figs. 1, 2. 2006.
Herbs caulescent, 50–80(–100) cm, mostly glandular throughout and strigose. Stems usually 1, rarely 2, erect, unbranched proximally to much branched distally, leaves dispersed along distal branches; pseudoscapes 0; cataphylls 6–10 mm. Leaves palmately 3(–5)-foliolate; stipules persistent, mostly linear-lanceolate, 7–12 × 6.5–9 mm, sparsely strigose; petiole, when present, not swollen or jointed basally, slightly canaliculate, (0 or)2–2.5(–4) mm, usually shorter than petiolules, sparsely strigose; petiolules often adnate to leaf spur, 1.8–3 mm; leaflet blades narrowly to broadly elliptic, (1–)1.2–5(–5.5) × (0.4–)0.6–2.7 cm, base cuneate, apex rounded to shallowly retuse and often mucronate, surfaces sparsely strigose. Peduncles 0.6–2.8(–3.4) cm, longer than subtending petiole, appressed-spreading pubescent. Inflorescences persistent, crowded, rachis usually concealed, usually elliptic to oblong, rarely ovate; rachis (1–)2–5(–5.5) cm, nodes (4–)6–13(–15), (1–)3(or 4) flowers per node; bracts persistent, broadly ovate to suborbiculate, 8–11.5 × (7–)9–10 mm, glabrous. Pedicels 1–3 mm. Flowers 12.5–14 mm; calyx strongly gibbous-campanulate in fruit, 12–16 mm abaxially, (10–)12–13 mm adaxially, glandular, pilose; tube 4–5 mm; lobes linear-lanceolate, abaxial (6–)7–11(–11.5) × 1.5–3 mm, adaxial 4–8 × 1–1.5 mm; corolla violet to lavender or cream to yellowish and tinged with violet, banner broadly oblanceolate to obovate, (8.5–)10–14 × 5.5–7 mm with claw (3.5–)4.5–7 mm, wings (7–)8–12 × 2–2.5 mm with claw (3–)4–6 mm, keel (5–)6–10 × 2–2.5(–3) mm with claw (3–)4–5 mm; filaments 9.5–11 mm; anthers broadly elliptic, 0.5(–0.8) mm; ovary glabrous, style glabrous, sometimes strigulose basally. Legumes broadly ellipsoid to nearly obovoid, 6–7 × 4–4.5 mm, glabrous, dark brown-glandular on distal 1/2, beak (5–)6–8 mm, exserted beyond calyx. Seed gray-brown, reniform, 3.5–5 × 2.5–3.5(–4) mm.
Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Rocky, open areas, adjacent open woodlands.
Elevation: 0–100 m.
Discussion
Pediomelum piedmontanum is known from only three populations, one in Georgia and two in South Carolina, with an estimated 1000 individuals in existence. Populations are newly threatened by the recent invasion of Megacopta cribraria (the Kudzu Bug), seen inhabiting plants in South Carolina, as well as continued herbivory and damage by moths, which make this species of special conservation concern.
Selected References
None.