Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect or spreading subshrubs.

Stems: Stems 1–10 dm long, sparsely hispid, usually glandular.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaflets elliptic to lanceolate, 0.5–3.3 cm long, 0.1–0.9 cm wide. Apex biapiculate. Surfaces pubescent and sparsely to densely hispid. Leaflet margins entire. Secondary veins thickened toward margins. Petiolate. Stipules present 8–16 mm long, persistent.

Flowers: Flowers in heads, ca. 1 cm in diameter, usually also with a plumose axis 3–10 mm long, bracts 1.2–2 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect), papilionaceous; bracteoles 4–6 mm long. Calyx persistent in fruit, the lobes 2.5–3 mm long. Receptacle elongated, stalklike; Calyx 5-lobed, membranous, connate basally. Corolla pale yellow or orange with red veins and basal mark on standard, 5–7 mm long, inserted on calyx tube. Stamens 10, connate into a tube, eventually splitting on upper side, upper ones connate into a lip, the lowermost longest; anthers alternately long (subbasifixed) and short (versatile). Ovary superior; ovules 1–3.

Fruit: Pods oblong; compressed; articulate; consisting of 1–2 articles; 4–9 mm long; articles 3.5–4 mm long; pubescent at least on margins; beak slightly uncinate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; apex tipped by the persistent; hooked style base. Seeds brown; ellipsoid; compressed; 2–3 mm long.

Ploidy: 2n = 20

Habitat:

Elevation Range: 70–300 m.