Growth Form: Whiteflower Prairie Clover is a forb/herb or subshrub; plants upright (erect).
Leaves: Whiteflower Prairie Clover has green or gray-green leaves, the leaves are pinnatelycompound with narrow leaflets; leaves are fragrant with an oily-like resin on the surface.
Flower Color: Not surprising, Whiteflower Prairie Clover has white flowers along several dense terminal stalks; the flowers are pleasantly fragrant from an oily-based resin on the surface; the stamens extend outward giving the flowers a dramatic flare to the cylindrical spikes.
Flowering Season: March or April through October and November.
Elevation: 3,500 to 7,500 feet (1,067 - 2,286 m).
Habitat Preferences: Mid- to upper-lever Sonoran desert communities, mountainous regions and evergreen oak and pine communities; habitats include grasslands and grassy flats, dry stony hillsides, open slopes, in canyons, mesas and mountainous regions.
Recorded Range: In the United States Dalea albiflora is found only in Arizona and New Mexico. In New Mexico it occurs in the southwest region and in Arizona it is found throughout most of the state with few or no records in Yuma Co. It also is native to northwestern Mexico in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango and Sinaloa.
North America & US County Distribution Map for Dalea albiflora.
North America species range map for Whiteflower Prairie Clover, Dalea albiflora:
Click image for full size map.
Genus Information: In North America, USDA Plants Database lists 108native species for Dalea; Worldwide, World Flora Online includes 223 accepted species names for the genus and The Plant List shows 233 records for Dalea including varieties.
Members of the genus Dalea are known collectively as the Prairie Clovers and Indigo Bush.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 32 species of genus, California, Nevada and Utah each have 4 species, New Mexico has 29 species and Texas has 36 species. Data approximate, subject to revision.
Comments: The type specimen for Dalea albiflora from the San Pedro and Babocomari (Wright 987); the type of Thornbera villosa from the Santa Rita Mountains.
Whiteflower Prairie Clover is similar in appearance to
Whiteflower Prairie Clover, Dalea albiflora has attractive flowers, the flowers and their seeds may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of nectar or food.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects
Whiteflower Prairie Clover, Dalea albiflora has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, Native Bees and other insects in search of food and nectar.
Whiteflower Prairie Clover, Dalea albiflora is an adult food source for;
Leda Ministreak, Ministrymon leda.
Learn more at Butterflies and Moths of North America, (BAMONA).
