Perennial herbs, erect or ascend­ing to spreading, sometimes trailing, sparsely pubescent or densely villosulous. Stems 2.5–8(–9) dm, ± eglandular. Principal leaves 2–4(–4.5) cm; leaflets (9 or) 11–17(–21), blades elliptic to elliptic-oblanceolate, 8.5–15 mm. Peduncles 0–1(–2.5) cm. Inflorescences spikes, moderately densely flowered, not involucrate, 7–10 mm diam.; axis eventually visible, 3–12(–14) cm; bracts deciduous, (1.5–)2–5.5 mm. Calyces asymmetric, recessed opposite banner, 2.8–3.8 mm, densely pilosulous; tube 1.9–2.7 mm, with 0 glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate or subulate or adaxial pair triangular to ovate. Corollas usually rose-purple to pale pink or lavender, rarely white; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner 4.4–5.6 mm, blade ovate to elliptic, 2.3–3 × 2–2.6 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades 2.1–3.8 × 0.9–1.3 mm. Stamens 5, (5–)5.4–7 mm, filaments distinct to 2.5–4.4 mm, anthers 0.6–0.9(–1) mm. Legumes 2.5–3.2 mm, distally villosulous, ± eglandular. Seeds 2–2.4 mm.

Distribution

North America.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Dalea villosa var. grisea, Dalea villosa var. villosa

Key

1	Stems usually 2.5–5 dm, rarely longer, densely villosulous; leaflet blades 8.5–10(–11) mm, surfaces densely villosulous.	Dalea villosa var. villosa
1	Stems 5–8(–9) dm, sparsely pubescent; leaflet blades 10–15 mm, surfaces sparsely pubescent.	Dalea villosa var. grisea