Amorpha fruticosa L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Fabaceae

• Scientific Name

  Amorpha fruticosa L.

• Description

  Species Description - Branching shrub to 4 m; foliage not blackening in drying; petioles 2–5 cm; lfls 4–10+ pairs, green but not shining, 2–4 cm, usually sparsely short-hairy beneath; petiolules almost always pubescent; racemes (1)2–several, 6–20 cm; cal-tube 2–3 mm, the upper 4 lobes 0.5 mm, broadly triangular to half-orbicular, the lowest one somewhat longer and narrower; banner 5–6 mm; fr 5–9 × 2–4.5 mm, strongly glandular, the upper margin usually strongly bulged upward; 2n=40. Moist woods and stream-banks; N.H. to Minn. and s. Sask., s. to Fla., Tex., s. Calif., and n. Mex. May, June. Variable, but not clearly divisible. (A. croceolanata, a southern phase with loose, often tawny or orange pubescence)

• Common Names

  false indigo