partridge pea

(Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata)

Conservation Status
partridge pea
Photo by Luciearl
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FACU - Facultative upland

     
  Midwest

FACU - Facultative upland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FACU - Facultative upland

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Partridge pea is a 4 to 36 tall, erect, annual forb that rises on one or a few stems from a taproot.

The stems are erect or ascending, slender, and light green at first, becoming reddish brown as the season progresses. They are occasionally branched at or above the middle. They are sparsely to moderately covered with short, spreading or curled, upward-pointing hairs. The stems are weak and taller (longer stemmed) plants often sprawl.

The leaves are alternate and 2 to 3½ long. They are sensitive to touch, and will fold longitudinally when disturbed. They are on 2 to 3 long leaf stalks (petioles). Near the middle of the petiole, on the upper surface, there is a 1 32to 116 in diameter, usually stalked, saucer-shaped gland. The gland is a nectary and attracts insects. At the base of the petiole there is a pair of small, green, leaf-like appendages (stipules). The stipules are narrowly lance triangular, asymmetrical, ¼ to long, and 1 32to 116 wide. They are long tapered at the tip and have several prominent, parallel veins. They remain on the plant throughout the growing season. The leaf blades are pinnately divided into 5 to 18 pairs of leaflets.

The leaflets are narrowly oblong to oblong, to ¾ long, and 116 to 3 16wide. They are stalkless, asymmetrical at the base, and taper abruptly to a sharp or blunt point at the tip. A minute, stiff, hair-like extension of the midvein (mucro) projects from the tip. The upper surface is green and hairless. The lower surface is green, hairless, and somewhat covered with a whitish, waxy coating (glaucous). The margins are untoothed but have a fringe of short, spreading hairs.

The inflorescence is a cluster of 1 to 3 flowers rising from the stem near but not in the leaf axils. Normally, only 1 flower is open at a time. Each flower is on a to long stalk.

The flowers are 1 to 1¼ in diameter and asymmetrical in appearance. There are 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 10 stamens, and 1 style. The sepals are green, linear to lance-shaped, sharply pointed, to ½ long, and 1 16 to wide. The petals are yellow, reddish at the base, broadly egg-shaped, unequal in size, narrowed at the base (clawed), to ¾ long, and 5 16to 1116 wide. One of the lateral petals curves around the stamens. There are 9 short stamens grouped on one side of the style and 1 large stamen on the opposite side. The anthers are purple and ¼ to long. The style is greenish-white, about long, and curved.

The fruit is a flattened, 1¼ to 2 long, 3 16to ¼ wide seed pod with 4 to 20 seeds. The seed pods are straight, not twisted. They are green and hairy at first, becoming dark brown and hairless at maturity. When mature the seed pods fling the seeds a good distance from the plant.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

4 to 36

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Yellow

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry to moderate moisture. Prairies, savannas, meadows, railroads, roadsides, open disturbed areas. Full sun.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

July to September

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  8/14/2022      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Rosanae  
 

Order

Fabales (legumes, milkworts, and allies)  
 

Family

Fabaceae (legumes)  
  Subfamily Caesalpinioideae (peacock flower)  
  Tribe Cassieae  
  Subtribe Cassiinae  
  Genus Chamaecrista (sensitive and partridge peas)  
  Species Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea)  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Cassia brachiata

Cassia chamaecrista

Cassia fasciculata

Cassia fasciculata var. brachiata

Cassia fasciculata var. depressa

Cassia fasciculata var. ferrisiae

Cassia fasciculata var. puberula

Cassia fasciculata var. robusta

Cassia fasciculata var. rostrata

Cassia fasciculata var. tracyi

Cassia mississippiensis

Cassia robusta

Cassia rostrata

Chamaecrista brachiata

Chamaecrista depressa

Chamaecrista littoralis

Chamaecrista mississippiensis

Chamaecrista robusta

Chamaecrista rostrata

Chamaecrista tracyi

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

golden cassia

locust-weed

partridge-pea

partridge pea

prairie senna

showy partridge pea

sleeping-plant

sleepingplant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Axil

The upper angle where a branch, stem, leaf stalk, or vein diverges.

 

Claw

A stalk-like narrowed base of some petals and sepals.

 

Glaucous

Pale green or bluish gray due to a whitish, powdery or waxy film, as on a plum or a grape.

 

Mucronate

Tipped with a short, sharp, abrupt point.

 

Nectary

A tissue or organ which produces nectar, usually at or near the base of the inside of a flower.

 

Petiole

On plants: The stalk of a leaf blade or a compound leaf that attaches it to the stem. On ants and wasps: The constricted first one or two segments of the rear part of the body.

 

Pinnate

On a compound leaf, having the leaflets arranged on opposite sides of a common stalk. On a bryophyte, having branches evenly arranged on opposite sides of a stem.

 

Sepal

An outer floral leaf, usually green but sometimes colored, at the base of a flower.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Nancy Falkum

 
 

Hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens w/ Partridge pea At TNC KWD Cox Unit

 
    hoary puccoon      
 

Luciearl

 
 

Growing in nearby woodland area.

 
    partridge pea      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Habitat

 
    partridge pea      
           
 

Plant

 
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    partridge pea      
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    partridge pea   partridge pea  
           
    partridge pea      
           
 

Leaves

 
    partridge pea   partridge pea  
           
 

Infructescence

 
    partridge pea   partridge pea  
           
 

Fruit

 
    partridge pea      

 

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Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Nature in a Minute, Episode 7 - Partridge Pea
Kevin Mims
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 19, 2011

A look at Partridge Pea, a wildflower that attracts quail, turkeys, and lots of butterflies. Check out the Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar in the video, too.

   
  Chamaecrista fasciculata Partridge Pea
dullard69
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 5, 2012

A regional native member of the legume family Fabaceae.

   
  Partridge Pea - Native pollinator plant
hdmarsh
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 1, 2010

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) Native wildflower found through out the South east of N. America. Butterflies and pollinators love it. It is self-seeding, pretty and drought-tolerant. A great plant for yards. http://www.pool2pond.blogspot.com

   

 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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  Nancy Falkum
6/26/2022

Location: Weaver Dunes Preserve, Cox Unit

Hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens w/ Partridge pea At TNC KWD Cox Unit

hoary puccoon  
  Luciearl
8/14/2022

Location: Lake Shore

Growing in nearby woodland area.

partridge pea  
           
 
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