partridge pea

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 3⅛″ long leaf stalks (petioles). Near the middle of the petiole, on the upper surface, there is a 1 ⁄32″to 1⁄16″ 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 ⅝″ long, and 1 ⁄32″to 1⁄16″ 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, ⅜″ to ¾″ long, and 1⁄16″ to 3 ⁄16″wide. 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 ⅜″ to ⅝″ 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, ⅜″ to ½″ long, and 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ wide. The petals are yellow, reddish at the base, broadly egg-shaped, unequal in size, narrowed at the base (clawed), ⅝″ to ¾″ long, and 5 ⁄16″to 11⁄16″ 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 ⅜″ long. The style is greenish-white, about ⅜″ long, and curved.

The fruit is a flattened, 1¼″ to 2⅜″ long, 3 ⁄16″to 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.

4″ to 36″

Yellow

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

July to September

Sources

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

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 8/17/2025).

Native

Growing in nearby woodland area.

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

Chamaecrista fasciculata Partridge Pea
dullard69

Partridge Pea - Native pollinator plant
hdmarsh

Location: Lake Shore

Location: Weaver Dunes Preserve, Cox Unit

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

Location: Lake Shore

Growing in nearby woodland area.