Stems 0–8 cm. Stipules 2.5–11 mm, surfaces villosulous, sparsely strigulose, or glabrate abaxially. Leaves 4–16 cm; leaf­lets 11–27(–31), blades mostly flat, usually obovate-cuneate, oblanceolate, or rhombic-elliptic, rarely sub­orbiculate, (3–)4–17 mm, apex obtuse, acute, or emarginate. Peduncles (4–)5–15(–21) cm. Racemes 10–25(–35)-flowered; axis (1.5–)2–8(–11) cm in fruit. Flowers (14–)18–24 mm; calyx 8.8–12.7(–14) mm, pilosulous to loosely strigulose, sometimes villous, tube 7.1–10 mm, lobes 1.7–2.8 mm; corolla banner (14–)18–24 mm; keel 14.7–20.1 mm. Legumes oblong-ellipsoid to lanceoloid-ellipsoid or, sometimes, ovoid-acuminate, 17–30 × 6–10 mm, somewhat fleshy becoming stiffly leathery or subligneous, usually strigulose or pilosulous, sometimes glabrous. Seeds 24–35.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Arid grasslands, oak-chaparral, in pinyon-juniper, juniper, or ponderosa pine forests, on volcanic, granitic, or sedimentary bedrock (including limestone).
Elevation: 1000–2000 m.

Distribution

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Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.Mex.

Discussion

The range of var. brachylobus extends from the crest of the Mogollon Escarpment northward to the slopes of the Kaibab Plateau, westward to the Colorado River near Needles, California, and southeastward around the edge of the Gila Basin to west-central New Mexico.

The pubescent phases of var. brachylobus were aggre­gated into four groups, three somewhat geographically restricted (R. C. Barneby 1964). Variety brachylobus is difficult to distinguish from var. tephrodes in west-central New Mexico.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.