Ozark milk-vetch

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Ozark milk-vetch

Ozark milk-vetch inflorescence

Ozark milk-vetch leaves

Ozark milk-vetch

Morphology

Stem

Prostrate to decumbent, usually glabrous below, sparsely strigose above.

Leaves

Alternate, pinnately compound, 1 to 5 inches long; stipules distinct, ovate to lanceolate, 1/12 to 1/3 inch, glabrous; petiole present; leaflets 9-27, blades obovate to elliptic or oblanceolate, 1/12 to 1/2 inch long, 1/12 to 1/4 inch wide, apex round to truncate or retuse, margins entire, lower surface sparsely strigose, upper surface glabrous.

Inflorescence

Racemes, 5-20-flowered, axillary; peduncles decumbent or prostrate, 1 to 6 inches; raceme axis 3/5 to 2 4/5 inch long. Pedicels to 1/10 inch long.

Flower

Papilionaceous; calyx campanulate, 1/8 to 1/4 inch, strigose; petals 5; corolla white, bluish white, lilac, or pinkish purple, 1/3 to 3/5 inch; banner ovate, 2/5 to 3/5 inch; wings 1/4 to 3/5 inch; keel 1/4 to 1/3 inch, slightly upturned distally, apex obtuse; stamens 10, 9 united, 1 free; style glabrous.

Fruit

Pods, usually ascending, initially green, becoming brown or black, curved, crescent-shaped, slightly flattened in cross section, 2/5 to 1 inch long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, initially fleshy, becoming leathery, glabrous; seeds 25--35, kidney to heart shaped, ca. 1/10 inch.

Ecology

Habitat

Rocky tallgrass prairies, glades

Distribution

East 1/4 of Kansas

Additional Notes