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Pediomelum verdiense - Verde Formation breadroot

Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Pediomelum verdiensis
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 6 inches tall
Riparian
Yes

Short-stemmed to stemless; glandular and hairy throughout; branches arise from a deep, tuberous root; leaves mostly basal, hairy, leaflets mostly 5; flowers in short, somewhat elongated clusters, 2 to 3 flowers per node; petals white to purple.

Low-growing, nearly stemless, glandular, hairy throughout, tuberous root; leaves grayish-green; leaflets 3 to 5, wedge-shaped, narrow at base; flower tube, <1/4 inch, flowers in rounded, elongated clusters, whitish or purple, banner, purple wings, keel.

Habitat

Limestone soils of the Verde Formation in Yavapai County.

Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Grasslands
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Riparian
Low elevation
3100
High elevation
5000

Flower Characteristics

Flowers in short, rounded, somewhat elongated clusters, 2 to 3 flowers per node; petals white to purple, wings and keel purple, wings sometimes lighter in color than the keel; stalks very narrow (filiform); sepals glandular, teeth lance-like to oblong.

Flower color
White to purple, dark purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
Flower clusters
Elongated

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Typically 5 leaflets, may be 3 or 4, maybe green to yellowish-green above; stalks short, hairy; leaflet blades wedge-shaped at base, broadly pointed to rounded or notched at tip, glandular, hairy, more hair on lower surface and upper surface has veins

Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf attachment
Basal
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Hairy, not glandular, round to oval, pod does not extend beyond the sepals.

Fruit type
Pod

Oval to kidney-shaped, <1/4 inch long, olive to gray brown and with or without purple mottling.