Amorpha laevigata
Fl. N. Amer. 1: 306. 1838.
Shrubs, 1–2(–3) m; arising from compact, woody root. Stems smooth, gland-dotted, usually glabrous, sometimes strigulose to glabrate. Leaves (5–)8–20(–25) cm; stipules linear to setaceous, 2–3 mm, eglandular, glabrous; petiole 10–25(–30) mm, gland-dotted, usually glabrous; rachis gland-dotted, usually glabrous; leaflets (9–)13–19(–21), stipels acicular, 1–2 mm, petiolule 2–5 mm, glands distinctly warty, usually strigulose, sometimes glabrous, blade elliptic to narrowly oblong, (10–)15–35(–40) × 4–10(–12) mm, base round, margins flat, entire or slightly crenulate, apex often emarginate, sometimes round, surfaces gland-dotted abaxially, eglandular adaxially, glabrous or sparsely strigulose abaxially, glabrous adaxially; midvein terminated by a swollen mucro, 0.1–0.2 mm. Racemes (1 or)2 or 3(–8)-branched, 10–20(–25) cm; rachis sparsely gland-dotted or eglandular, sparsely strigulose; bracteoles linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm, gland-dotted, strigulose. Pedicels 0.6–1.2 mm, eglandular, strigulose. Flowers: calyx tube funnelform to campanulate, 1.5–3 mm, distal 2/3 gland-dotted, usually glabrous, sometimes strigulose; lobes: abaxial lobe narrowly lanceolate, adaxial lobes round to triangular, 0.2–1.2 mm; banner bright blue to deep violet-blue, broadly obcordate, 4–6 × 4–4.5 mm, indistinctly clawed, margins entire or finely erose; filaments 6–9 mm, connate basally 3–5 mm; anthers orange; ovary glabrous. Legumes sessile, 4.5–6 × 2–2.5 mm, margins curved outward abaxially, straight or slightly curved inward adaxially, at least distal 3/4 gland-dotted, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely strigulose. Seeds not seen.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Prairies and open woods, often in moist places.
Elevation: 10–500 m.
Distribution
La., Okla., Tex.
Discussion
Amorpha laevigata is an under-collected, ill-defined taxon with characters that overlap with those of several other species. Further study may show that it does not warrant recognition or, alternatively, that it is an extremely rare endemic in need of conservation concern.
Selected References
None.