Sophora stenophylla A.Gray

  • Authority

    Isely, Duane. 1981. Leguminosae of the United States. III. Subfamily Papilionoideae: tribes Sophoreae, Podalyrieae, Loteae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (3): 1-264.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Sophora stenophylla A.Gray

  • Description

    Species Description - Gray-sericeous perennial herb, 1-3.5 dm, from cord-like, creeping roots from which arise ascending rhizomes that emerge as erect, bushy-branched, basally naked stems. Pubescence sericeous to subvillous. Leaves crowded, sessile; leafstalk 2-4 cm; leaflets 9-15 (fewer on lowermost leaves), irregularly arranged to subfasciculate or opposite, continuous with axis, filiform-sinuous, 1-2 cm, 10-15 r, thick, mucronulate. Stipules graduated; those of rhizomes ensheathing and glabrous; of the initial 2-3 nodes of above-ground stems broadly lanceolate, subtending branches but bearing no blades; of leaf-bearing nodes abortive or absent. Racemes terminal, commonly of main axis only, 5-20 cm and usually exserted, with 5-many crowded or loosely disposed, ascending-divergent flowers. Pedicels 5-6 mm, alternate or somewhat clustered, not bracteolate. Calyx-hypanthium broadly campanulate, slightly gibbous and 2-lipped, 5-9 mm; lobes 4, 2.5-4 mm, unequal. Corolla purple, fading blue; standard inserted separately and exceeding other petals, ovate, recurved 90°-120°, with a basally hirsutulous claw; keel apiculate. Filaments basally slightly swollen and hirsutulose at base. Pistil stipitate 1 mm; ovary cylindric, 10-12 mm, pubescent; ovules 7-9, style short, slender. Fruiting sparse. Legume oblong, terete, incompletely moniliform because of poor seed set, 4-5 cm x ca. 6 mm diam, villosulous, persistent; segments 1-3(-5), the sterile intervals linear. Sophora.

  • Discussion

    Sophora stenophylla, a showy local species, is similar to the widespread S. nuttalliana in its perennial herbaceous habit, differing in the blue-purple flowers, and sessile leaves with filiform, subfascicular leaflets. Its growth habit is shared by many perennial species adapted to the dune habitat.

  • Distribution

    S and e Utah, into ne Arizona and adjacent New Mexico. Deep sand, especially of dunes, with sage, juniper, ephedra, locally abundant. Ca. 3000-5000 ft. April-June.

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