Herbs, perennial, or subshrubs, darkening on drying. Stems ± erect, 1–3 m, glandular-hispid. Leaves 4–7 cm; stipules peltate, 5–15 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acu­minate; leaflets 15–37, blades 1-veined, nearly symmetric, linear-oblong, 5–10 × 1.5–2.5 mm, margins entire, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences 1–5-flowered, racemes, axis glabrous. Flowers: calyx 5–6 mm, bilabiate, lips barely lobed, glabrous; corolla yellowish with purple markings, 9–12 mm, banner glabrous, sometimes margins ciliate; gynophore 10–15 mm, separating from proximal segment by distinct suture, glabrous or hirsute, hairs bulbous-based, glandular. Loments: both margins crenate, abaxial margin often more deeply indented, sutures between segments well developed, margins not separating from valves; segments 3–9, subelliptic, 7–8 × 5–6 mm, reticulate venation con­spicuous, center of each verrucose, faces glabrous. Seeds dark brown, 4–5 × 3–3.5 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Dec–Apr.
Habitat: Wet places.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Fla.

Discussion

Variety pratensis occurs in southern Florida.

A chromosome count of 2n = 20 (C. A. Berger et al. 1958) was based on var. caribaea Rudd, which is smaller in all parts and is not known to occur in the continental United States.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.