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Key to Dalea

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1 Flowers of Dalea Type A (the corolla bilaterally symmetrical and papilionaceous, the 9-10 stamens enclosed in a keel, the wings and keel of standard papilionaceous conformation, arising laterally from the stamen column); leaflets 15-25; [native of TX, OK, and s. FL]; [subgenus Parosela].
  2 Shrubs; leaflets 7-23 per leaf; corollas either cream, fading purplish, or bicolored white and purple; [TX, OK, or s. FL]; [subgenus Parosela; section Parosela].
    3 Leaflets 1.5-4 mm long; corolla bicolored, the standard white, the epistemonous petals purple; shrubs to 5 (-10) dm tall
    3 Leaflets 5-15 mm long; corolla (all petals) initially cream, ‘fading’ to reddish or dull purple; shrubs 20 20 dm tall.
      4 Leaflets 15-23 per leaf; [s. FL]
      4 Leaflets 7-9 (-11) per leaf; [s. TX]
  2 Herbs, perennial or annual; leaflets 3-11 (-13) per leaf; [TX and OK].
        5 Leaflets 5-11 (-13) per leaf; corollas pink to magenta purple, or white with a green ‘eye’; [subgenus Parosela; section Psoropogon].
          6 Stems solitary or a few, erect to ascending, 5-10 dm tall; inflorescence loosely flowered, the axis readily visible; flowers white, with a green ‘eye’
          6 Stems clustered or branched at the base, decumbent to ascending, 0.5-3 dm long; inflorescence initially compact, the axis hidden (elongating and loosening later); flowers pink to violet- or magenta-purple.
             7 Calyx finely sericeous-pilose with hairs < 1 mm long
             7 Calyx long-pilose with hairs to 2 mm long
        5 Leaflets 3-5 (-7) per leaf; corollas yellow, sometimes ‘fading’ reddish; [subgenus Parosela; section Cylipogon].
               8 Leaflets 3 per leaf; leaflets 7-10× as long as wide
               8 Leaflets (3-) 5 (-7) per leaf; leaflets 1-5× as long as wide.
                 9 Corollas 10-15 mm long, not ‘fading’ reddish; stems generally unbranched; spikes 12-20 mm in diameter (not counting the petals).
                   10 Leaflets 2-4× as long as wide; vestiture of hairs < 1 mm long; floral bracts 3-6 mm long, ovate; [calcareous substrates, c. and s. TX]
                   10 Leaflets 1-2×as long as wide; vestiture of hairs 1-2 mm long; floral bracts (subtending each flower 6-8 mm long, lanceolate; [deep sands, s. TX]
                 9 Corollas 6-8 mm long, ‘fading’ reddish; stems branched; spikes 7-13 mm in diameter (not counting the petals).
                     11 Floral bracts (subtending each flower) ovate to elliptic, 2-4 mm wide; fruiting spikes usually 7-9 mm in diameter; [acid sands]
                     11 Floral bracts (subtending each flower) ovate to lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm wide; fruiting spikes usually 10-12 mm in diameter; [calcareous substrates]
1 Flowers of either Dalea Type B (the corolla nearly symmetrical, the petals arising laterally from the stamen column, the 9-10 stamens or staminodes exposed) or Dalea Type C (the corolla nearly symmetrical, the epistemonous petals arising from the summit of the stamen column, the 5 stamens exposed); collectively widespread]; [subgenus Dalea].
                       12 Corollas of Dalea Type B (the corolla nearly symmetrical, the petals arising laterally from the stamen column, the 9-10 stamens or staminodes exposed); stamens either 9-10, or 5 with alternating staminodes; [IL, w. MO, AR, and w. LA westward, and also rarely introduced eastwards].
                          13 Perennials, prostrate and mat-forming; corollas red-purple to magenta; leaflets 5-15; [subgenus Dalea; section Elaspora].
                            14 Leaflets mostly 2.5-4.0 mm long; blade of the banner petal < 2.5 mm long, pale purple; [s. TX]
                            14 Leaflets mostly 4.5-10 mm long; blade of the banner petal > 2.5 mm long, deeper purple; [AR, OK, KS, CO south to nw. LA, nnc. TX, to w. TX and se. NM]
                          13 Annuals, decumbent, ascending, or erect; leaflets 13-35; corollas whitish, blue-lavender, rose, or red-purple; [subgenus Dalea; section Dalea].
                              15 Corollas rose to red-purple; leaflets 13-17; inflorescence (excluding the exserted petals) 1.5-3.5× as long as thick
                              15 Corollas whitish to blue-lavender; leaflets 17-35; inflorescence (excluding the exserted petals) 3-8× as long as thick
                       12 Corollas of Dalea Type C (the corolla nearly symmetrical, the epistemonous petals arising from the summit of the stamen column, the 5 stamens exposed); [collectively widespread]; [subgenus Dalea, section Kuhnistera].
                                16 Spikes arrayed in a compound corymb; spike capitate, surrounded by an involucre of 3-4 series of sterile bracts.
                                  17 Leaflets elliptic to oblanceolate, 1.5-2 mm wide, 3-5× as long as wide; spikes 10-13 mm in diameter; leaflets 3 or 5; [of FL peninsula]
                                  17 Leaflets linear to filiform, < 1 mm wide, > 10× as long as wide; spikes 8-10 mm in diameter; leaflets 3-9 (-15); [of se. NC south to c. peninsular FL, west to e. LA].
                                    18 Leaflets 5-9 (-15); petals (other than the standard) mostly 3.7-4.5 mm long
                                16 Spikes not corymbosely disposed, ovoid to cylindric; spikes not capitate, with or without a few subtending, sterile bracts.
                                       19 Leaflets 11-41.
                                         20 Leaflets 25-41; corollas white; [sw. AR and e. TX westward]
                                         20 Leaflets 11-25; corollas white, purple, pink, or lavender.
                                           21 Calyx external surface densely pilose to cinerous; stems pilose; corollas purple to rose or pink; leaflets 3.5-6× as long as wide.
                                             22 Stems 5-8 dm long, erect; leaflets thinly pubescent, appearing glabrescent; [AR, w. LA, and e. TX]
                                             22 Stems to 5 dm long, prostrate, decumbent, or ascending; leaflets densely silvery villous or cinerous; [MO, e. OK, and c. TX westward and northward]
                                           21 Calyx external surface glabrous or glabrate (also ciliolate); stems glabrate or finely pubescent; corollas white, lavender, or purple; leaflets 2.5-4× as long as wide.
                                               23 Corollas lavender to purple; [east of the Mississippi River, n. AL, TN, and northward]
                                               23 Corollas white; [west of the Mississippi River, w. LA, se. OK, and e. TX]
                                                 24 Leaflets 3-7 mm long; calyces 2.5-3.0 mm long; [dry sands of the Carrizo Formation in se. TX]
                                                 24 Leaflets 6-14 mm long; calyces 3.0-3.5 mm long; [e. TX, nw. LA, se. OK]
                                       19 Leaflets 3-11.
                                                    25 Calyx glabrous (puberulent in D. oligophylla); bracteoles present, 0.5-1.5 mm long, bristle-like and tending to be persistent; stems glabrous.
                                                      26 Corollas pink to purple (rarely white); leaflets 7-9; [east of Mississippi in Coastal Plain of s. GA and FL].
                                                        27 Leaflets flat or folded, oblanceolate, 5-9× as long as wide
                                                        27 Leaflets essentially terete, linear, >10× as long as wide
                                                      26 Corollas white; leaflets 5-11; [more widespread, including Coastal Plain of s. GA and FL].
                                                          28 Calyx tube split on the upper side; calyx tube ribs not prominent, the intervals eglandular or nearly so; leaflets 5; [GA, AL, FL].
                                                            29 Leaves closely spaced and generally with axillary fascicle shoots; bract tips not recurved in bud
                                                            29 Leaves widely spaced and generally lacking axillary fascicle shoots; bract tips recurved in bud
                                                          28 Calyx not split on the upper side; calyx tube ribs prominent (sometimes even flange-like), the intervals with 1 (-3) prominent gland(s); leaflets 5-11; [IN, c. KY, e. TN, c. AL westward].
                                                              30 Spikes globose, 0.8-1.2 cm long, 0.8-1.0 cm in diameter (not including the petals); leaflets 7-11
                                                              30 Spikes cylindric (smaller spikes globose), (1-) 2-8 cm long, 0.6-0.8 cm in diameter (not including the petals); leaflets 5-9.
                                                                 31 Spikes remaining compact in fruit, the rachis remaining hidden; calyx tube ribs rounded, the surface glabrous but the lobes ciliate-margined; [widespread from s. IN, c. KY, e. TN, nw. GA, and sc. AL westwards]
                                                                 31 Spikes extending in fruit, allowing the rachis to be visible; calyx tube with flange-like ribs, glabrate to finely pubescent on the surface; [e. OK and nc. TX westwards]
                                                    25 Calyx variously and obviously hairy; bracteoles absent; stems glabrate to variously hairy.
                                                                   32 Corollas white; leaflets 1-2.5× as long as wide; [TX westwards]
                                                                   32 Corollas pink, purple, rose (rarely white); leaflets 6-16× as long as wide; [IN, c. KY, e. TN, nw. GA, and sc. AL westward].
                                                                     33 Spikes 20-70 mm long, loosening with age, the rachis becoming partly visible.
                                                                       34 Calyx pilose, some of the hairs > 1 mm long; leaflets 3-5
                                                                       34 Calyx villosulous or sericeous, the hairs < 1 mm long; leaflets 5-9.
                                                                         35 Calyx tube ribs not strongly developed, the tube nearly terete; stems glabrous to slightly puberulent; leaves slightly puberulent; [Ridge and Valley of se. TN, nw. GA, and ne. AL; Interior Low Plateau of c. TN and n. AL; Ozark Plateau of sc. MO and nc. AR]
                                                                         35 Calyx tube ribs prominent, making the tube 5-angled; stems villosulous; leaves glabrous; [plains of nc. TX]
                                                                     33 Spikes 5-40 mm long (or to 70 mm long in D. purpurea), remaining compact.
                                                                           36 Calyx tube velutinous, the hairs retrorse (the calyx lobes with antrorse hairs); [c. TX]
                                                                           36 Calyx tube villosulous to tomentulose, the hairs antrorse or tangled and multi-directional; [collectively widespread].
                                                                              37 Spikes 10-14 mm in diameter (not including the petals); calyx 4.6-6 mm long; calyx tube villosulous in lines (glabrous between).
                                                                                38 Spikes subsessile or on peduncles to 3 cm long; bracts of the inflorescence 4-8 mm long, equaling or exceeding the calyces at anthesis and therefore evident; leaflets often > 3 mm wide; plants generally decumbent; [se. OK, sw. AR, and e. TX]
                                                                                38 Spikes on peduncles 2015 cm long; bracts of the inflorescence 3-5 mm long, shorter than the calyces at anthesis and therefore not readily evident; leaflets < 3 mm wide; plants decumbent or erect; [nw. LA, se. OK, e. and c. TX]
                                                                              37 Spikes 7-12 mm in diameter (not including the petals); calyx 3.5-5 mm long; calyx tube villosulous across the surface.
                                                                                  39 Interfloral bracts with pubescence along the keel and margins; plants decumbent to ascending, stems normally branching only below the middle
                                                                                  39 Interfloral bracts with pubescence in a transverse band only; plants ascending to erect, the stems branching above the middle

Key to Fabaceae, Key K: herbaceous legumes with pinnately trifoliolate leaves [subfamily Faboideae]

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1 Leaflets denticulate (sometimes inconspicuously so); [tribe Trifolieae].
  2 Inflorescences elongate racemes with an axis 5-15 cm long, the flowers well-spaced along the axis, the overall inflorescence much longer than its diameter
  2 Inflorescences umbellate or headlike clusters or short racemes with an axis < 2 cm long, the flowers closely clustered, the overall inflorescence little (if at all) longer than its diameter.
    3 Legumes spirally coiled or curved, often tuberculate or prickly; stems 4-angled towards the tip
    3 Legumes straight or nearly so, never tuberculate or prickly; stems terete or flattened (2-angled) towards the tip
1 Leaflets entire (and sometimes also with 1 or 2 broad lobes), or with scattered, irregular large teeth (Pachyrhizus erosus).
      4 Main stems erect or ascending, not trailing, twining, or otherwise vine-like.
        5 Flowers not papilionaceous (the wings and keel epistemonous, arising terminally or laterally from the stamen tube), barely bilaterally symmetrical; stamens 5, monadelphous; [tribe Amorpheae]
        5 Flowers papilionaceous; stamens 10, diadelphous or monadelphous.
          6 Plants with separate leafy and flowering stems (the flowering stems naked or nearly so of leaves).
             7 Standard bright red, remaining folded, 30-50 mm long; leaves hastately lobed; fruit a torulose legume, 6-20 cm long, the seeds red; [tribe Phaseoleae]
             7 Standard white or pink, expanded, 4-8 mm long; leaves not hastate; fruit a flattened loment, < 5 cm long, the seeds drab; [tribe Desmodieae]
          6 Plants bearing leaves and flowers on the same stems.
               8 Leaves, stems, and/or calyces glandular-punctate.
                 9 Corollas pink or lavender/purplish; leaflets estipellate; fruit 1-seeded, indehiscent; [tribe Psoraleae]
                 9 Corollas yellow; leaflets stipellate; fruit 2-many-seeded, dehiscent; [tribe Phaseoleae, subtribe Cajaninae]
               8 Leaves, stems, and calyces lacking punctate glands.
                   10 Leaflet blades large, at least the largest terminal leaflets on a plant > 5 cm long.
                     11 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets; stamens monadelphous.
                       12 Fruit a legume (not segmented into 1-seed dispersal units), hairy but the hairs not hooked; [plants cultivated as garden plants, rare as waifs]
                       12 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights'); [plants widespread, common]
                     11 Stipels present, persistent; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1).
                          13 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights'); [plants widespread, common]
                          13 Fruit a legume (not segmented into 1-seed dispersal units), hairy but the hairs not hooked; [plants cultivated as crops or garden plants, rare as waifs]
                            14 sKeel of corolla not coiled; stipules inconspicuous; [soy beans]
                            14 Keel of corolla coiled 1-3 turns; stipules conspicuous, persistent, striate; [bush green beans or lima beans]
                   10 Leaflet blades smaller, all on a plant < 5 cm long.
                              15 Stipels present, persistent.
                                16 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights')
                                16 Fruit a several- to many-seeded legume, glabrous to hairy (but not uncinulate)
                              15 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets.
                                  17 Fruits dehiscent, a legume with 2 or more seeds.
                                    18 Terminal leaflet very similar in size as the 2 lateral leaflets; banner petal prominently striate-veined
                                    18 Terminal leaflet 2× or more as long as the 2 lateral leaflets; banner petal evenly colored
                                  17 Fruits indehiscent: either 1-seeded, or a loment with 2 or more one-seeded (indehiscent) segments.
                                       19 Petioles fused most of length with amplexicaul stipules, the leaves thus appearing sessile or nearly so; corollas lemon to orangy yellow; flowers subsessile; fruit a loment of 2 segments, the terminal segment fertile, the lower segment either sterile or fertile
                                       19 Petioles free from stipules, leaves evidently petiolate; corollas white to pink; flowers pedicellate; fruit either 1-seeded, or a loment normally with 3+ segments
                                         20 Fruit a loment, with 1-3 segments; terminal leaflets 3-10 cm long, 1-1.5× as long as wide; stamens monadelphous
                                         20 Fruit 1-seeded; terminal leaflets 1-5 cm long, 1.2-8× as long as wide; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1)
      4 Main stems trailing, twining, creeping, or climbing or sprawling over other vegetation.
                                           21 Leaves, stems, and/or calyces glandular-punctate; corollas yellow.
                                           21 Leaves, stems, and calyces lacking punctate glands; corollas yellow, pink, purplish, white, red, blue.
                                             22 Leaflet blades smaller, all on a plant < 5 cm long.
                                               23 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets.
                                                 24 Fruit a loment of 2 segments, the terminal segment fertile, the lower segment either sterile or fertile; corollas lemon to orangy yellow
                                                 24 Fruit 1-seeded; corollas pink-purplish to white, or bronze to brick-red.
                                                    25 Corollas pink-purplish to white
                                                    25 Corollas bronze to brick-red
                                               23 Stipels present, persistent (minute in Amphicarpaea).
                                                      26 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights').
                                                        27 Flowers in axillary or terminal racemes; leaflets rotund, broadly ovate, broadly elliptic, or narrowly elliptic, the larger > 1 cm long.
                                                        27 Flowers in axillary clusters; leaflets broadly obovate, 0.5-1 cm long
                                                      26 Fruit a legume, dehiscent (at least tardily), unsegmented, and with 2+ seeds.
                                                          28 Flowers resupinate (the pedicel twisted 180 degrees), the banner 2.5-5.5 cm long and positioned lowermost.
                                                            29 Calyx lobes equal to or longer than the calyx tube; fruits 3-5 mm wide
                                                            29 Calyx lobes shorter than the calyx tube; fruits 5-8 mm wide
                                                          28 Flowers not resupinate, the banner 0.7-2.5 cm long and positioned uppermost.
                                                              30 Stipules caducous
                                                              30 Stipules persistent, sometimes conspicuous, sometimes striate.
                                                                 31 Keel petal and the included style straight to gently upcurved; stems very slender, < 0.75 mm in diameter
                                                                 31 Keel petal and the included style either strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees, or even more extensively coiled (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center; stems slender to thicker, > 0.75 mm in diameter.
                                                                   32 Keel petal and the included style strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees; corollas yellow or pink to lavender (or whitish).
                                                                     33 Corollas pink to lavender (or whitish); corolla keel usually somewhat twisted, asymmetrical; [widespread in our region]
                                                                     33 Corollas yellow; corolla keel symmetrical; [mainly outer Coastal Plain]
                                                                   32 Keel petal and the included style extensively coiled > 180 degrees (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center; corollas pink, purple, maroon, purple-black (or whitish).
                                                                       34 Peduncles long, the flowers borne in clusters on a raceme axis shorter than the peduncle; plants glabrate to villous, the hairs not hooked
                                                                       34 Peduncles short, the flowers scattered along a (sometimes branched) raceme axis, the raceme axis about as long as or longer than the peduncle; plants uncinulate pubescent (use 20× magnification, or touch the plant for the 'tacky' feel)
                                             22 Leaflet blades large, at least the largest terminal leaflets on a plant > 5 cm long.
                                                                         35 Stipels absent on the petiolules of mature leaflets; stamens monadelphous
                                                                         35 Stipels present, persistent (minute in Amphicarpaea); stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) or monadelphous (Pueraria).
                                                                           36 Stamens monadelphous; robust herbaceous vine with stems to 30 m long; flowers purple, when fresh smelling like artificial grape flavoring.
                                                                           36 Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1); herbaceous vines with stems usually < 5 m long; flowers various in color, not 'grapy' in odor.
                                                                              37 Flowers resupinate (the pedicel twisted 180 degrees), the banner (standard) petal lowermost; banner (standard) 25-50 mm long, much larger than the other petals.
                                                                                38 Calyx lobes equal to or longer than the calyx tube; fruits 3-5 mm wide
                                                                                38 Calyx lobes shorter than the calyx tube; fruits 5-8 mm wide
                                                                              37 Flowers not resupinate, the banner (standard) uppermost; banner (standard) < 25 mm long, or if up to 30 mm then not much longer than the other petals.
                                                                                  39 Fruit a loment (separating into single-seeded segments), uncinulate (with hooked hairs, the fruits attaching to hairs or clothes as 'stick-tights')
                                                                                  39 Fruit a several- to many-seeded legume, glabrous to hairy (but not uncinulate).
                                                                                    40 Keel incurved < 90 (-120) degrees; style glabrous or pubescent.
                                                                                      41 Stipules inconspicuous or obsolescent.
                                                                                        42 Leaflets coarsely toothed; roots tuberous
                                                                                        42 Leaflets with entire margins (sometimes with 1-2 rounded lobes); roots slender
                                                                                           43 Corolla 3-4 cm long; fruits constricted between the seeds; fruits with stinging hairs
                                                                                           43 Corolla < 2 cm long; fruits constricted or not; fruits glabrous or hairy, the hairs not stinging.
                                                                                             44 Bracteoles below the calyx persistent; ventral suture of the fruit bumpy-nodose; style bearded
                                                                                             44 Bracteoles caducous; ventral suture of the fruit not bumpy-nodose; style glabrous.
                                                                                               45 Leaflets (2-) 4-8 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, 5-6× as long as wide; leaflet apices acute to obtuse; fruits not flanged or winged
                                                                                               45 Leaflets 6-14 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, 1-1.3× as long as wide; leaflet apices strongly acuminate; fruits with a flange or wing along the ventral suture
                                                                                      41 Stipules persistent and conspicuous.
                                                                                                 46 Legume quadrangular in ×-section, 4-winged
                                                                                                 46 Legume circular, elliptic, or oblong in ×-section, not winged.
                                                                                                   47 Flowers clustered 3 or more at the inflorescence nodes; upper calyx lobes fused.
                                                                                                   47 Flowers arrayed differently; upper calyx lobes separate.
                                                                                                     48 Keel petal and the included style straight to gently upcurved; stems very slender, < 0.75 mm in diameter
                                                                                                     48 Keel petal and the included style strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees; stems slender to thicker, > 0.75 mm in diameter
                                                                                    40 Keel petal and the included style either strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees, or even more extensively coiled (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center; style or stigma pubescent.
                                                                                                        49 Plants uncinulate pubescent (use 20× magnification, or touch the plant for the 'tacky' feel)
                                                                                                        49 Plants glabrate to villous, the hairs not hooked.
                                                                                                          50 Keel petal and the included style strongly curved upwards 90-180 degrees
                                                                                                            51 Corolla keel symmetrical; [mainly outer Coastal Plain]
                                                                                                            51 Corolla keel usually somewhat twisted, asymmetrical; [widespread in our region]
                                                                                                          50 Keel petal and the included style even more extensively coiled (asymmetrically and spirally) in towards the flower center.
                                                                                                              52 Corolla 2.5-4 cm long, the wings about as long as the other petals; leaflets not lobed
                                                                                                              52 Corolla 1.5-2 cm long, the wing petals longer than the other petals; leaflets lobed