Shrubs or small trees. Stems gray-brown, twigs glabrous. Leaves: petiole 8.5–35 mm, gla­brous; blade dull green, sub­coriaceous, thin (0.05–0.25 mm), blades orbiculate to reniform, 29–69.5 × 43–93 mm, base cordate, sinus 5–19 mm deep, margins flat, apex emarginate to retuse, surfaces glabrous, sometimes hairy on veins or in vein axils abaxially. Pedicels glabrous. Flowers: calyx 6.4–9.2 mm wide; petals pink, nectar guides magenta, banner 4.7–7.1 × 3.4–5.3 mm, wings 4.7–6.5 × 3.5–5.4 mm, keel 6.5–10.2 × 5.8–7.5 mm. Legumes red-brown to brown, 49–94 × 9–24 mm. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Feb–Apr.
Habitat: Dry, shrubby slopes, canyons, stream banks, chaparral, foothill woodlands, yellow-pine forests.
Elevation: 0–3000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Oreg., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Cercis occidentalis ranges widely in California, but in Oregon it is found only in Jackson County.

Morphological trends of reduced leaf size and broader and shorter fruits were recognized in one population of Cercis occidentalis found in the Laguna Mountains east of San Diego (J. A. Ballenger 1992). This area warrants further collections and assessment of both flowering and fruiting specimens.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.