XSilky Sophora (Sophora nuttalliana)X
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Silky Sophora -or- White Loco -or- Nuttall's sophora (Sophora Nuttalliana) -or- (Vexibia nuttalliana), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean)
Originally published as Astragalus Racemosus pending fruit examination, we found the identity of this pea in Wildflowers of the Western Plains, by Zoe Merriman Kirkpatrick. Sadly, with early drougt conditions in the areas that the plants were found in 2010, the plants have not bloomed this 2011 season. Hence, no fruit. Per the Colorado State University Extension website is this: 'sometimes mistaken for an Astragalus, but has ten free stamens and not stamens adhering to one another as in the Astragalus.' End quote.
Flower -
Plant location: First sighting in Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96, on May 5, 2010. GPS coordinates: N38?15.010 W104?43.324 - Elevation: 4912'. We saw the plants again the following week on May 12, 2010: GPS coordinates: N36?38.283 W104?45.666 - Elevation: 6278'. The USDA Plant Database has this species in the following United States: AZ, CO, KS, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY. Plant -
Bloom season: March through June. This species - as with racemosus - is a plains dweller, consistant with this sighting.Foliage -
Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 12, 2010
A standout in attractiveness plant - STUNNING! -
Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 12, 2010
Plant shown in scale using a pen. Sighted a week later than the original find. -
Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 5, 2010
Flower macro -
Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 5, 2010
Leaves entire, opposite, midvein, hairs lanate and mostly appressed, all on the back of the leaf. -
Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 5, 2010
Flower macro -
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Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 5, 2010
A pattern we've noticed in two fabaceae recently (see astragalus cibarius) is that many of the flower-bearing stems in plants with colored caylx tubes are colored with the same hue as the caylx. -
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Pueblo Colorado, Colorado Hwy 96 - May 5, 2010
A better view of the stem and caylx colored in the same hue. -