Dalea foliosa (A. Gray) Barneby

Leafy Prairie Clover

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Leafy Prairie Clover is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It occurs in the Tennessee Valley in northwest Alabama. Leafy Prairie Clover occurs in openings in cedar glades, in prairies, and along streams in calcareous areas. It is a perennial with a stout taproot. There are usually multiple stems from each root crown. The stems are erect to ascending, green in color, and glabrous. The stems are 1-2 feet in height. Leaves are alternate, odd pinnately compound with 9-31 leaflets. The leaflets are elliptic to oblong in outline, entire, and glabrous. The leaflets are flat or slightly folded. Flowers are produced in dense terminal spikes. The spikes are cylindrical in shape on long peduncles. The flowers have 5 pinkish to lavender or rarely white petals. The fruit is a 1-2 seeded indehiscent legume that is partly or completely enclosed in the persistent calyx. Leafy Prairie Clover is listed as a S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G2G3 species (G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors. G3 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). Leafy Prairie Clover was listed as a Federally Endangered species in May of 1991. It can be distinguished from other members of the genus in Alabama by its habitat, flower color, and greater number of leaflets. Leafy Prairie Clover is available from some nurseries. It prefers full sun and a well-draining, basic soil.--A. Diamond

Listed as <a href=" https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=Q28M">Federally Endangered</a> as of 1 May 1991.</a>

Native Endangered-US S1 (State Rank) G2G3 (Global Rank)

Barneby, R. C. 1977. Daleae Imagines---An illustrated revision of Errazurizia Philippi, Psorothamnus Rydberg, Marina Liebmann, and Dalea Lucanus emend. Barneby, including all species of Leguminosae tribe Amorpheae Borissova ever referred to Dalea. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 27: 244-245.