Silky Dalea (Dalea mollissima)

Silky Dalea (Dalea mollissima). Echo Bay, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Common Names: Silky Dalea, Soft Prairie Clover, Downy Daley
Synonyms: Dalea mollissima, Dalea mollis var. mollissima, Dalea neomexicana ssp. mollissima
Taxonomy: Fabaceae (Pea)
Habit: annual Forb, herb
Size: to 10 inches (35 cm)
Flowers: white, red, purple
Bloom: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Leaves: alternate
Fruit: single-seeded legume pod
Description:

Alternate leaves, generally odd-1-pinnate, leaflets 8-14, round to obovate-oblong, 3-10 mm long, generally folded, shallowly lobed or wavy, stipules inconspicuous, thread-like or glandular. Flowers are pale cream to lavender, clustered in densely soft-hairy infloresences. Flowers are similar to others in the pea family growing on dense 1 inch (2.5 cm) long spikes.

Distribution: AZ, CA, NV
Seen: NV
Habitat: Desert flats and in washes, under 3,000 feet (900 m) in elevation. Locally plentiful in years of good rainfall.

Silky Dalea (Dalea mollissima). Echo Bay, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Silky Dalea (Dalea mollissima). Echo Bay, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Silky Dalea (Dalea mollissima). Las Vegas Wash, Nevada

References:

Dalea mollissima: SEINet

If you love flowers, plants, birds and animals, then you are in the right place. I love nature photography and combined with my love of birds, flowers and travel I have decided to create a place to present photographs and information on my favorites. This is a revision of my previous website traveltoeat.com since I become old (and fat) and I have become more interested in photography than eating.

I live in Las Vegas but I travel frequently in the southwest, California and in fact around the world. While Las Vegas would seem to be an unusual choice with regards to plants and birds it is an unusually busy place due to Pacific Migration Flyway which comes through Las Vegas. Since this is a desert, the birds are concentrated in the many springs, seeps, lakes and parks in and around Las Vegas, making for really great birding.

Kurt Buzard MD

Since the previous blog focused on travel and eating, there will be a fair amount of focus on history beautiful architecture and food. However, both in the past and today I am always interested in a good garden, zoo, safari or hike.My idea of a perfect day is to be surrounded by flowers, insects, animals and birds, I hope my photographs and descriptions will inspire you in your own travels and hikes.

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