Plant Description
Stems 10 to 24 inches tall, widely branched, smooth. Leaves less than 1 inch long, leaflets 1/16 inch long, thick, folded lengthwise, smooth. Flowers in 2 to 10 flowered, head-like spikes. Banner petals reddish-purple, keel (lower) petals often yellow.
Plants perennial, shrubby. Flowers purple or white, attached directly to stem; spikes are head-like or almost head-like and stout, or if less than ½ inch wide then not elongate; petals inserted on stamen tube, leaving scars when they fall.
Habitat
Rocky hillsides, mountains and dry, open and sunny plains.
Leaves
Pinnate with 7 to 11 narrow leaflets dotted with dark glands. Compound leaves less than 1 inch long and leaflets to 1/16 inch long.
Flowers
Pea-like flowers, petals to 1/2 inch long, 2 to 10 flowers in terminal spiked clusters. Upper (banner) petals reddish-purple, keel (lower) petals often yellow; sepals 5, long-hairy, united at the base.
Fruit
Pods small, hairy, and gland-dotted, contained within the persistent hairy calyx; containing 1 to 2 seeds.