Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea (Pall.) DC. Torr. & A. Gray
silky oxytrope
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

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Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a strong taproot and branching stem-base; stems few to several, tufted, sometimes virtually lacking, decumbent to erect, hairy, 3-30 cm long/tall.
Leaves:
Basal and alternate along the stem, odd-pinnately compound, 4-20 cm long; leaflets 15 to 41, egg-shaped to lance-oblong, 3-20 mm long, sparsely to densely soft-hairy on both surfaces or glabrous above; stipules leaf-like, lanceolate, 6-15 mm long, fused to the leaf-stalk for only 1-3 mm.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a stalked, compact to elongate raceme of 5 to 25 pea-like flowers, the racemes 5-15 cm long on stalks (2) 5-25 cm long; corollas white, pinkish, bluish or purple, 6-10 mm long; calyces bell-shaped, 3-8 mm long, dark stiff-hairy, the teeth narrowly lanceolate and about as long as the tube; flowers at first upright but soon nodding and often disposed to one side of the raceme.
Fruits:
Pods, drooping, oblong-ellipsoid, dark short-hairy, 8-25 mm long including a short stalk to 1-3 mm long, 1-chambered.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat and Range

Moist to mesic, often sandy or gravelly meadows, river bars, grassy slopes, thickets and open forests from the montane to alpine zones; frequent in BC east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; amphiberingian, N to AK, YT and NT, E to Labr. and S to CO, NM and OR; Siberia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Oxytropis deflexa subsp. sericea (Torr. & A. Gray) Cody
Oxytropis deflexa var. parviflora B. Boivin