Dalea ornata
Man. Bot. ed. 8, 219. 1840. (as ornatum)
Perennial herbs, erect, glabrous proximal to inflorescence. Stems (2–)2.5–6(–7) dm, dotted with small, raised glands. Principal leaves 2.5–5.5(–6.5) cm; leaflets 5 or 7 (or 9), blades oblanceolate to obovate, 7–22 mm. Peduncles 1–11 cm. Inflorescences spikes, densely flowered, not involucrate, 13–16 mm diam.; axis not visible, (1–)1.5–5 cm; bracts deciduous, interfloral ones often held in place by crowded flowers, (3–)4–7.5(–8.5) mm. Calyces subsymmetric, (3.6–)3.9–6.3(–6.7) mm, pilose throughout or distally; tube (2.4–)2.7–3.6(–3.8) mm, with 2–9 small glands between ribs, lobes lanceolate to ovate. Corollas usually rose-purple to lilac, rarely white; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner 7–9 mm, blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 3.3–4.5 × (2–)2.3–4 mm; epistemonous petals attached at separation of filaments, blades (3.3–)3.5–5 × 1.4–2 mm. Stamens 5, (7.3–)7.7–12 mm, filaments distinct to (3.6–)4.7–7.6 mm, anthers 1–1.4 mm. Legumes 3–3.5 mm, pilosulous distally and gland-dotted. Seeds 2–2.4 mm. 2n = 14.
Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: Rocky, sandy, or clay soils in dry areas, often among sagebrush.
Elevation: 100–2000 m.
Distribution
Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Wash.
Discussion
Dalea ornata is nearly endemic to the Columbia-Snake river basin. In California, the species is known only from the Shaffer Mountain region in Lassen County.
Selected References
None.