Family: Fabaceae
purple prairie-clover, violet prairie-clover
[Petalostemon molle Rydb., more...]
Merel R. Black
Margery Melgaard
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Dalea: named after Samuel Dale (1659-1739), an English physician, botanist and botanical collector, and gardener who was the author of several botanical works and a treatise on medicinal plants. He was an associate of several major botanical figures in England,
Plants: erect, perennial, 1'-3' tall forb, mostly hairless
Leaves: many, very narrow, pinnately-divided into an odd number of leaflets (5) which roll backward when dry
Flowers: purple, 5-parted, 1/4" long; inflorescence up to 2" long, dense spike blooming from the bottom upward; blooms June-Aug.
Fruits: tiny pod not splitting open when mature
Habitat: full sun; dry to moderate moisture; prairies, meadows; in sandy, loamy soil
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect, perennial, 1'-3' tall forb, mostly hairless
Leaves: many, very narrow, pinnately-divided into an odd number of leaflets (5) which roll backward when dry
Flowers: purple, 5-parted, 1/4" long; inflorescence up to 2" long, dense spike blooming from the bottom upward; blooms June-Aug.
Fruits: tiny pod not splitting open when mature
Habitat: full sun; dry to moderate moisture; prairies, meadows; in sandy, loamy soil
Conservation Status: Native
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 7 Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora: by T.S. Cochrane & H.H. Iltis: habitat, distribution infomation / flowering and fruiting times USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Margery Melgaard
Derek Anderson
Christopher Noll
Paul Drobot
Margery Melgaard
Keir Morse
Kitty Kohout
Paul Drobot
Christopher Noll
Merel R. Black
Botanical Illustration
