Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
2 to 18 inches
Riparian
No
Annual plant covered with slender, stiff, closely appressed hairs. Stem is prostrate or weakly ascending.
Plants have an evident stem. Flowers are 18 to 23 mm long. Calyx is less than 2/3 as long as the flower tube. Leaflets are 4mm wide.
Habitat
Open grasslands, gravel and sand, rocky ledges.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4500
Flower Characteristics
Tiny flowers have a white center with an arching, spreading purple banner. There are from 1 to 7 flowers per cluster.
Flower color
Purplish-blue
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
February
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are generally compound, alternate, and stipuled.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Elongated pods curve moderately inward as they dry. They have a groove along the outside suture and the suture on the inward side of the curve is slightly raised. They are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.
Fruit type
Pod
Fruit color
Green turning red
There are 12 to 16 bean shaped seeds per pod.