Shrubs, unarmed, to 3 m. Stems glabrous when young becom­ing short-pilose and capitate-glandular. Leaves: stipules sub­persistent, lanceolate-ovate to deltate or suborbiculate, 3–4 mm, stiff to hard, fringed on margins, apex acuminate to rounded, surfaces pubescent, margins fimbriate-glandular; petiole 1.5–3 cm, with broad pulvinus at base, pulvinus channeled, glabrous or short-hairy; rachis 9.5–21.5 cm, glabrous or sparsely red-glandular; pinnae 8–15 pairs, opposite (proximally) to alternate (distally), also with terminal pinna; leaflets in 7–11 opposite pairs, blades oblong-elliptic to narrowly ovate, 6–11 × 2–3 mm, margins thickened, apex acute, midvein evident abaxially, sur­faces glabrous; blades with submarginal row of black, punctate glands, these sometimes sparse or absent. Inflorescences 30–40-flowered, terminal; axis spreading-pubescent, densely stipitate-glandular with pixie-cup glands; bracts caducous before anthesis, lanceolate-ovate, 18–23 mm, apex acuminate, pubescent with fimbriate-glandular margins. Pedicels unarticulate, 20–30 mm, abscising at base only, spreading-pubescent and densely stipitate-glandular with pixie-cup glands. Flowers: calyx lobes 18–25 mm, margins capitate-glandular ciliate, fringed at tip and slightly fringed on outer margin, abaxially short-pilose and capitate-glandular, adaxially glabrous; petals not clawed, blades glabrous and eglandular; banner broadly obovate, 22–32 × 17–20 mm, without appendage; lower laterals broadly obovate, 22–32 × 12–16 mm; upper laterals broadly obovate, 22–32 × 16–18 mm; filaments crim­son, 70–95(–120) mm, pubescent on proximal 1/3; anthers 3 × 1.5 mm; ovary densely pubescent and stipitate-glandular; style crimson, 90–100(–120) mm, pubescent on at least proximal 1/3; stigma a terminal, funnel-shaped, unfringed chamber. Legumes 8–10.8 × 1.9–2.1 cm, subligneous, finely pubescent, glandular with stipitate, pixie-cup glands, these wearing off as fruit matures. Seeds 1–6, 10 × 9 mm. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering nearly year-round.
Habitat: Disturbed areas, flood plains, rocky, thorn-scrub forests.
Elevation: 0–1700 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., Utah, South America (Argentina, Uruguay), introduced also in Mexico, Africa, Australia.

Discussion

Erythrostemon gilliesii can create dense stands in forests. The species is cultivated as an ornamental nearly worldwide.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.