Oxytropis campestris var. wanapum

Plants (10–)13–21 cm, herbage silky-pilose, canescent. Leaves (11–)14–18(–22) cm; stipules pilose abaxially, margins ciliate; leaflets (13–)19–25(–33), scat­tered or subopposite, blades lin­ear to narrowly oblong, (8–)15–25(–33) mm. Peduncles (10–)17–21(–30) cm, axis (4–)6–8(–12) cm in fruit. Racemes (5 or)6–12-flowered. Calyces: tube 5–7 mm, lobes (1–)2–3 mm. Corollas pale lavender, banner veined, keel tip maculate with purplish blue, 14–20(–23) mm. Legumes 13–23 × 3.5–5 mm.

Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Gravelly ridges above steep north-facing basalt talus.
Elevation: 600 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Wash.

Discussion

Variety wanapum is restricted to xeric, basaltic gravels, talus, or outcrops in Grant County. Its flowers, suffused with purple, are diagnostic since no other vari­eties of the species in the Pacific Northwest typically have colored flowers. The narrow-bladed leaflets tend to be involute and to vary in number, usually 19–25. These vegetative features are unlike any of the other several varieties of Oxytropis campestris that occur else­where in North America and have lavender to purplish flowers.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.