Perennial herbs, erect, pilosulous to puberulent. Stems 1.5–5(–6) dm, glandular-verruculose. Principal leaves (2–)2.5–5 cm; leaflets (9–)21–35, blades linear, linear-oblanceolate, or linear-elliptic, (1.5–)2–9(–10) mm. Peduncles (1.5–)2.5–10 cm. Inflorescences spikes, densely flowered, not obviously involucrate, 6–8.5 mm diam.; axis not visible, 0.4–1.4(–3) cm; bracts persistent, (1.5–)2–4 mm. Calyces strongly asymmetric, deeply recessed opposite banner, 2.7–4(–4.3) mm, glabrate or pubescent distally; tube 2.1–2.8(–3) mm, with (0 or)3–6 minute glands between ribs, lobes subulate. Corollas white, or epistemonous petals blue or bluish; not conventionally papilionaceous; banner plane, 3–5.2 mm, blade ovate-elliptic to suborbiculate, not peltate, 2–2.4 × 2–2.4 mm; epistemonous petals attached near middle of stamen tube, blades 2.3–4 × 1.1–1.3 mm. Stamens 10, 5–7.7 mm, filaments distinct to 2.6–3.7 mm, anthers 0.6–0.7 mm. Legumes 2.2–2.6 mm, puberulent distally, eglandular. Seeds 1.6–1.8 mm.
Phenology: Flowering fall.
Habitat: Open rocky hillsides and canyons, open pine or oak woodlands.
Elevation: 1400–1900 m.
Distribution
Ariz., Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora).
Discussion
Some herbarium labels comment on the lemon odor of Dalea lumholtzii. Although the epistemonous petals are generally blue or bluish, white-petaled plants are not uncommon in the flora area.
Selected References
None.