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Fabaceae
Chamaecrista

not marked as a favorite taxon Chamaecrista nictitans (Linnaeus) Moench var. nictitans. Common name: Common Sensitive-plant. Phenology: Jun-Oct; Jul-Nov. Habitat: Forests, woodlands, disturbed areas, pine savannas, and a wide variety of other habitats. Distribution: C. nictitans is widely distributed in e. North America, and (depending on the scope of what is included in it) south into South America. In North America, var. nictitans ranges throughout se. United States, north to Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and e. Kansas.

Glossary (beta!)

Series: Chamaecrista.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Fl3, FNA11.1, NY, POWO, Va, WH3, Isely (1998); = Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench ssp. nictitans; = Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench ssp. nictitans var. nictitans — K1, K4, NE, NS, SE3, Irwin & Barneby (1982); < Cassia nictitans L. — GrPl, RAB, W, Isely (1975), Robertson & Lee (1976); > Cassia nictitans L. var. hebecarpa Fernald — F, G, Tat; > Cassia nictitans L. var. leiocarpa Fernald — F; > Cassia nictitans L. var. nictitans — F, G, Tat, Tx; < Chamaechrista nictitans — Il, misspelling; > Chamaecrista multipinnata Pollard — S; < Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench — C, Mi, NcTx, Pa, Tn; > Chamaecrista procumbens (L.) Greene — S. Basionym: Cassia nictitans L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans - FNA11.1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (name change)
  • Great Plains: FACU (name change)
  • Midwest: FACU (name change)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image #1 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Eric Blomberg | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Eric Blomberg | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Eric Blomberg | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #20 of Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 4-20 in.

plant sale text: This often under-appreciated member of the pea family is great for wildlife. In addition to the small yellow flowers that attract numerous species of pollinators, the leaves have tiny nectar-producing glands (called 'extrafloral nectaries') that also attract wasps, ants, and spiders. The seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds, including dove, turkey, and quail. It also is the host species for the little sulphur and cloudless sulphur butterflies. This leaves of this species are sensitive to the touch and will close when touched or hit with direct sunlight.

bloom table text:

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cultural notes:

germination code: 3

native range: eastern United States