| Botanical name: |
Chamaecrista
fasciculata
(Michx.) Greene var. fasciculata |
| Common
name: |
Partridge pea; sleeping plant
|
| Synonomy: |
Cassia
brachiata
(Pollard) J.F. Macbr.
Cassia
chamaecrista
L.
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx.
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. brachiata
(Pollard) Pullen ex Isely
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. depressa
(Pollard) J.F. Macbr.
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. ferrisiae
(Britt. ex Britt. & Rose) Turner
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. puberula
(Greene) J.F. Macbr.
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. rostrata (Woot.
& Standl.) B.L. Turner
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. robusta
(Pollard) J.F. Macbr.
Cassia
fasciculata
Michx. var. tracyi
(Pollard) J.F. Macbr.
Cassia
mississippiensis
Pollard
Cassia
robusta
(Pollard) Pollard
Cassia
rostrata
(Woot. & Standl.) Tidestrom ex Tidestrom & Kittell
Chamaecrista
brachiata
Pollard
Chamaecrista
depressa
(Pollard) Greene
Chamaecrista
littoralis
Pollard
Chamaecrista
mississippiensis (Pollard)
Pollard ex Heller
Chamaecrista
robusta
(Pollard) Pollard ex Heller
Chamaecrista
rostrata
Woot. & Standl.
Chamaecrista
tracyi
Pollard
|
| Group: |
Dicot
|
| Family: |
Fabaceae |
| Growth
Type: |
Forb/herb
|
| Duration: |
Annual
|
| Plant
height: |
1
to 4 feet tall (usually 1 to 2 feet), branching freely, with short
hairs.
|
| Foliage: |
Alternate,
evenly pinnate compound, 1 to 4 inches long. Each
leaf with 6 to 15 pairs of linear-oblong leaflets. The leaflets are
smooth but have sparsely hairy margins and either blunt or pointed tips.
|
| Flower: |
Yellow,
showy, 5 petals, the upper 4 petals with a reddish spot at the base,
the lower petal is larger. 2 - 7 flowered racemes.
Flowers are clustered in the axils of the leaves.
|
| Flowering/fruiting time |
Flowers
late July to mid-Septmeber; fruits in early September too late October.
Seed a flat pod (legume) 1 to 2.5 inches long, containing 4 to 20 seeds.
|
| Habitat: |
Sandy
or rocky soils; disturbed areas, prairies, open woods, waste ground,
and along roads.
|
| Range
in
New Jersey: |
Characteristic
of Middle district, but with tendency to become weedy, spreading over
railroad embankments and in cultivated ground.
|
| Heritage ranking if any: |
n/a
|
| Distribution |
|
| Misc.: |
This
plant is a member of the pea family, but its flower petals do not have
the characteristic "pea" shape. It may be that it it One of the petals
curves completely back to cover the center of the flower as if to aid
with pollinators. It may be attempting to become more "pea-like", or
perhaps just the opposite, trying to become less "pea-like".
The leaves are touch-sensitive. They will fold when
disturbed.
Upland game birds and songbirds eat the seeds, and deer and cattle will
consume the foliage.
Partridge pea can be mildly poisonous to livestock when consumed in
large quantities, but deer seem unaffected.
USDA information:
The seed is one of the major food items of northern bobwhite and quail
because it remains in sound condition throughout the winter and early
spring.
Erosion control: The plant can be used along road banks and stream
banks to control erosion.
Recreation and beautification: The flowers of this plant can be used to
beautify areas where wildflowers are planted.
Partridge pea usually reseeds but will gradually disappear without
regular maintenance. Light disking to remove weeds, small
brush, and old sod is necessary for healthy plantings or natural
stands. In areas where prescribed burning is permitted,
controlled fire is an excellent method for controlling unwanted
vegetation. Fire or disking should be done in late winter for
best results. Weeds can also be controlled during the growing
season by mowing over the top of the partridge pea.
Chamaecrista, Greek chamai (dwarf) and crista
(crest); fasciculata, in
bunches or bundles.
|
Not sure what a word means? Use Answers.com:
|
