Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) Greene

Common Partridge Pea; Sleeping Plant

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Common Partridge Pea is a native herbaceous annual in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Common Partridge Pea grows in pine forests, along forest edges, in clear cuts, along powerline corridors, on roadsides, and in disturbed habitats. It is an annual with a tap root. The stem is branched above the middle and from 1-3 feet in height. The stems are green or reddish in color and glabrous or pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, even pinnately compound, with 12-36 leaflets. There are two persistent stipules at the base of the leaf. A sessile, circular, saucer-shaped gland is located on the petiole. The gland secretes a sugary solution that attracts ants. The ants attack any insects or other animals that may attempt to eat the plant. Leaflets are linear-oblong in outline, entire, glabrous, with inequilateral bases. The leaves fold up at night. Flowers are produced in axillary fascicles. The flowers have 5 yellow petals that vary in size, and 10 reddish stamens. The petals have a red basal area. The fruit is an elastically dehiscent pubescent legume with 10-20 black seed. Common Partridge Pea is available as seed from wildlife nurseries. It is widely planted for deer and quail. It is also used for erosion control on forest roads. Common Partridge Pea is the larval food for Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), and Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) Butterflies.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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