Massive-spike prairie-clover

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Massive-spike prairie-clover habit

Massive-spike prairie-clover

Massive-spike prairie-clover habit

Massive-spike prairie-clover inflorescence

Morphology

Stem

Erect, usually simple, glabrous proximal to spike, glandular-punctate.

Leaves

Alternate, usually odd-pinnately compound, rarely pinnately compound, 1.2 to 2.8 inches; leaflets 7-9, blade oblanceolate to oblong or elliptic, .5 to 1 inch long, .04 to .2 inch wide, margins entire, tip acute to acuminate, surfaces sparsely glandular-punctate abaxially.

Inflorescence

Spikes, terminal, dense, cylindric, .8 to 7 inches long, .35 to .5 inch wide; axis not visible.

Flower

Not strongly papilionaceous, abaxial petals not forming obvious keel; calyx campanulate, .13 to .17 inch, densely pilose externally, tube .07 to .09 inch, lobes ovate to lanceolate, .05 to .09 inch; corolla white to pale pink or yellowish white, petals 5; banner .18 to .24 inch; stamens 5, fused in a single unit.

Fruit

Legumes, ovate, straight, somewhat flattened in cross section, enclosed in persistent calyx, .1 to .12 inch, pilose distally; seeds .07 to .08 inch.

Ecology

Habitat

Sandsage prairies, sand dunes, and sandy flood plains.

Distribution

Southwest corner of Kansas

Additional Notes