Perennial herbs, erect, ± silky-villosulous. Stems (2–)2.5–5(–7) dm, sparsely gland-dotted distally. Principal leaves 1–4 cm; leaflets (13–)17–35(–41), blades oblanceolate to linear-elliptic, (1.5–)2–7(–10) mm. Peduncles 0.5–8.5 cm. Inflores­cences spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, 7–10 mm diam.; axis not visible, (1–)1.5–6(–7) cm; bracts early deciduous to persistent, 1.5–3.2 mm. Calyces asymmetric, recessed opposite banner, (2.8–)3.2–5.1 mm, pilosulous; tube (1.9–)2–3(–3.3) mm, with 3–6 glands between ribs, lobes triangular. Corollas white; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner plane, (4.4–)5–6.4 mm, blade oblong-ovate, not peltate, proximally cordate to cuneate, (2.6–)3–4 × (2–)2.2–3.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached high on stamen tube, just proximal to separation of filaments, blades (2.7–)3.1–4.4 × (0.8–)1.3–1.9(–2.2) mm. Stamens 10, (5–)6–8 mm, filaments distinct to 3.5–4.5 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm. Legumes 2.2–2.9 mm, villosulous distally and gland-dotted. Seeds 1.6–2 mm. 2n = 14, 24.

Phenology: Flowering fall (spring–summer).
Habitat: Open woodlands, grasslands, roadsides.
Elevation: 1000–2300 m.

Distribution

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Ariz., N.Mex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora).

Discussion

Dalea albiflora is a complex and variable species that could use further morphological and cytological studies. While herbarium specimens cannot be sorted into varieties in any consistent way, in the field, delicate plants with slender, creeping rootstocks may grow with, and appear quite distinct from, plants with a stout caudex; such plants have been called D. ordiae. There are few chromosome counts available; preliminary study suggests that the former plants are tetraploid and the latter diploid (D. E. Ward et al. 1993).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.