Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Dalea angulata, D. divaricata var. cinerea, D. parryi, Parosela divaricata var. cinerea
Other common names
Parry dalea
Parry's indigobush
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
8 to 32 inches
Riparian
No
Slender, somewhat shrubby, slightly woody at base; short-lived perennial, often flowering the first season.
Subshrub; slender-stemmed, glandular, diffusely branched, somewhat woody at the base; stiff straight hairs; leaves of 15 to 35 leaflets; spike-like elongated flower clusters with stout stems; flowers white and purple; seed pods hairy and glandular.
Habitat
Found on rocky slopes, open desert washes, roadsides, bouldery hillsides, mostly on granitic and volcanic bedrock, near sea-level.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4500
Flower Characteristics
Narrow, elongated clusters, up to 1/2 inch long with many flowers; sepals hairy, lobes triangular and shorter than tube; pea-like flowers have banner, wings and keel; deep purple upper petals, white lower petals.
Flower color
Purple and white
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Slender stems, often overlap to create clump, dotted with reddish glands and stiff hairs; well separated compound leaves, 5 to 12 pairs of opposite side leaflets, 1 terminal leaflet; leaflets round, flat, both sides gland-dotted, margins may be reddish.
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
Seed pods are furry, with rows of long hairs alternating with rows of glands.
Fruit type
Pod