Growth Form: Schott's Dalea is a gray or green intricately branched tree-like (arborescent) shrub with spines.
Leaves: Schott's Dalea has gland-dotted simple green leaves, the simple leaves are unlike most other members of the Fabaceae family which have compound leaves with leaflets.
Flower Color: Schott's Dalea has small but very showy bright blue or purple blue pea-like flowers; the flowering stalk has 5 to 15 flowers, the fruit is a small egg-shaped pod containing 1 seed.
Flowering Season: March to May
Elevation: Up to 2,000 feet (610 m).
Habitat Preferences: Gravelly benches, slopes and washes.
Recorded Range:Psorothamnus schottii is relatively rare, although common where found, in the United States it is found only in small geographic areas in AZ and CA. In Arizona it occurs in the extreme southwest part of the state and in California in the far southeast part of the state. It is also native to Baja California and northwest Mexico.
Genus Information: In North America, USDA Plants Database lists 8 species and accepted taxa overall for Psorothamnus. Worldwide, World Flora Online includes 19 accepted species names and a further 15 scientific names of infraspecific rank for the genus.
The genus Psorothamnus was published in 1919 by Per Axel Rydberg, (1860-1931).
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 7 species of Psorothamnus, California has 6 species, Nevada has 5 species, New Mexico and Texas each have 1 species and Utah has 4 species. Data approximate, subject to revision.
Comments:Psorothamnus schottii is an amazing shrub found in desert washes and sandy areas. It is very similar, superficially to Smoketree and also Mojave Indigobush with only a few taxonomic differences.
After fruiting, Schott's Dalea is susceptible to Rough Chaparral Dodder, Cuscuta californica var. papillosa, a sticky parasite.
The type specimen of Psorothamnus schottii is from along the Colorado River (Schott).
Schott's Dalea, Psorothamnus schottii 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
Schott's Dalea, Psorothamnus schottii 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.
****Special Value to Native Bees****
According to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation or other source, Schott's Dalea, Psorothamnus schottii, is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees, specifically Bumblebees (Bombus spp.). Click here for more information on their Pollinator Conservation Program.
Etymology:
The genus “Psorothamnus” (Psorotham'nus:) is from the Greek psoros, "mangy, scabby," and thamnos, "bush," thus "scabshrub."
The genus “Psorothamnus” was published in 1919 by Per Axel Rydberg, (1860-1931).
