Dalea wrightii
Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 3(5): 49. 1852.
Perennial herbs, erect to decumbent or ascending, silky-pilose. Stems 0.4–2.6(–3.6) dm, eglandular. Principal leaves 1–3.5 cm; leaflets 5, blades rhombic-ovate to lanceolate, 4–15(–20) mm, surfaces apparently eglandular. Peduncles absent or very short. Inflorescences spikes, relatively densely flowered, not involucrate, 17–23 mm diam.; axis not to partially visible, (1.5–)2–6 cm; bracts deciduous near anthesis, 6–12 mm. Calyces somewhat asymmetric, slightly recessed opposite banner, (8.5–)9–12.3 mm, densely pilose; tube (2.5–)2.7–3.5 mm, with 4 glands between ribs, lobes triangular-aristate, becoming plumose. Corollas clear yellow, pinkish or orangish brown in age; papilionaceous; banner 7.8–9.5 mm, blade cordate, 2–3 × 2.4–3.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached distal to middle of stamen tube; wings 2.6–3.4 × 1.8–2.3 mm; keel connate valvately, blades (2.6–)3–4(–4.2) × 1.6–2.2 mm. Stamens 10, 10–13 mm, filaments distinct to 1.5 mm, anthers 0.5–0.7 mm. Legumes 2.8–3.5 mm, distally with 2 rows of ascending hairs on either side of a glabrescent row, eglandular. Seeds 2–2.8 mm. 2n = 14.
Phenology: Flowering early spring–fall.
Habitat: Rocky grasslands, desert slopes, on limestone.
Elevation: 500–1800 m.
Distribution
Ariz., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora).
Discussion
Dalea wrightii occurs in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and trans-Pecos Texas.
Selected References
None.