Purple prairie-clover
Dalea purpurea Vent.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect or ascending, slender, simple or branching above, ribbed, glabrous or sometimes slightly pubescent.
- Leaves
- Alternate, odd-pinnately compound, .5 to 1.5 inch long, 1/2 to 1 inch wide, short-stalked; leaflets 3-7 (usually 5), linear, 1/3 to 1 inch long, less than 1/10 inch wide; margins usually rolling inward; tips pointed.
- Inflorescence
- Spikes, dense, cylindrical or cone-like, .5 to 2.5 inches tall, terminating stalks to 6 inches long.
- Flower
- Small; calyces bell-shaped, densely hairy; corollas papilionaceous, purple, rose or pinkish; stamens 5, united.
- Fruit
- Pods, tiny, egg-shaped, smooth; seeds 1, smooth, brown.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Dry rocky prairies and hillsides, open wooded sites, and roadsides.
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas.
Practical Information
- Forage Value
- New growth of this native legume is high in protein and is nutritious for livestock. Purple prairie-clover is readily consumed by livestock and will decrease with overgrazing.
- Uses
- It has been reported that the leaves have a constipating effect when boiled and used as a tea. Native Americans chewed the roots for their sweet taste and made brooms of the tough stems.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Fabaceae - Bean Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 8-36 inches
- Last Updated
- 2021-08-27
Color Groups
Blue, Purple, Lavender & Violet Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: June, July, August