Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea
Blue pendent-pod oxytrope, Blue Pendent-Pod Oxytrope
Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Blue pendent-pod oxytrope is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in the White Mountains of Mono County in moist meadows and forest openings at elevations of 2,800 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces dull white to pale lilac or blue flowers in spike-like clusters with 10 to 25 flowers that quickly bend downward. Growing with few to several green or gray stems, it develops a distinctive structure with elongated peduncles often exceeding 15 centimeters and frequently curved. Its basal and cauline leaves feature 15 to 31 leaflets, each 3 to 20 millimeters long, ranging from lanceolate to ovate in shape and arranged with free or fused stipules. The distinctive fruit emerges as a reflexed, elliptic or oblong pod 3 to 4.5 centimeters long, with a membranous or papery texture.
Habitat: Moist meadows, forest openings
Bloom period: Jun-Aug
Elevation: 2800-3200 m
Bioregions: W&I (White Mtns, Mono Co.)
California counties: Mono
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.