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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, bushy-branched, angled, glabrous or sparingly hairy; branches longitudinally grooved.
- Leaves
- Alternate, short-stalked, even-bipinnately compound, 2 to 4 inches long; 6-16 pairs of segments, each with 15-30 pairs of leaflets; leaflets linear-lanceolate, less than 1/5 inch long.
- Inflorescence
- Heads, dense, spherical, less than 1/2 inch in diameter, terminal, on stalks 1 to 2 inches long in leaf axils.
- Flower
- Small, white to greenish white; sepals 5; petals 5; stamens 5, filaments long, erect.
- Fruit
- Pods, sickle-shaped, 1/2 to 1 inch long, flat, many in dense clusters, dark brown when mature; seeds 2-5, about 1/6 inch long, brown.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Rocky prairies, waste areas, open wooded slopes, stream banks, ditches, and roadsides, most abundant in clay or sandy soils.
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas.
Practical Information
- Forage Value
- Illinois bundle-flower is high in protein. It is eaten readily by livestock and is considered an important indicator of range condition.
- Uses
- Native American children sometimes used the clusters of dried fruits as rattles.
Additional Notes
Comments
The common name "bundle-flower" derives from the densely flowering, puffball-like heads. It is winter hardy and drought resistant. The leaflets are touch-sensitive, folding together when handled.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Fabaceae - Bean Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 1-6 feet
- Last Updated
- 2021-05-31
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: May, June, July