Shrubs 20–110 cm. Stems terete. Leaves 2–4 × 1.5–2 cm, glaucous; stipules deciduous, distinct, linear, 2–6 mm, mem­branous; leaflet blades obovate, 5–15 × 3–10 mm, base cuneate, apex emarginate, mucronate. Peduncles 2–7 cm. Inflorescences 2.5–3 cm diam.; bracteoles connate, forming cup at base of pedicel, 1 mm. Pedicels 3–5 mm. Flowers: calyx weakly zygomorphic, 2–3.5 mm, lobes 0.3–1 mm; corolla 7–12 × 5–8 mm, keel acute. Loments brown, 10–30(–50) × 2.3–3 mm, longitudinally veined, veins anastomosing; segments 1–4(–10), 6.5–7 mm. Seeds brown, 3.5 × 1.5 mm. 2n = 12.

Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Sides of roads and trails, shaded oak canyons.
Elevation: 10–300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Calif., s Europe, nw Africa.

Discussion

Subspecies glauca is apparently spreading from cultivation into disturbed native vegetation in Los Angeles County; it was first collected in 1988. Subspecies valentina has leaves with 7–13 leaflets [versus (3–)5–7 in subsp. glauca] and herbaceous stipules, 5–10 mm.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.