194 Species in Genus Dalea

My Fascination with the Dalea Genus

As a botanist, I’ve always been drawn to the diversity and resilience of plant life. One genus that particularly captures my attention is Dalea, more commonly known as prairie clover or indigo bush. This diverse group of flowering plants, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, boasts over 190 species scattered across the New World, from the chilly plains of Canada to the sun-drenched landscapes of Argentina.

My first encounter with Dalea was during a field trip to the prairies of Nebraska. The sight of those vibrant purple blossoms swaying in the wind, attracting a myriad of pollinators, left an indelible mark on me. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to learn as much as I can about this fascinating genus.

A Diverse and Hardy Genus

What intrigues me most about Dalea is its incredible adaptability. These plants thrive in a variety of habitats, from arid deserts and rocky slopes to lush meadows and coastal plains. They’ve evolved to withstand harsh conditions, including drought, extreme temperatures, and poor soil. This resilience makes them an important part of many ecosystems, providing food and shelter for wildlife.

The diversity within the Dalea genus is also quite remarkable. Species range from low-growing herbaceous plants to tall shrubs, with flowers in a spectrum of colors including purple, white, yellow, and red. This variety adds to their visual appeal and ecological importance.

A Closer Look at Dalea Species

1. Dalea abietifolia (Rose) Bullock
2. Dalea acracarpica Barneby
3. Dalea aenigma Barneby
4. Dalea albiflora A.Gray
5. Dalea analiliana Spellenb.
6. Dalea ananassa Barneby
7. Dalea aurea Nutt. ex Pursh
8. Dalea austrotexana B.L.Turner
9. Dalea ayavacensis Kunth
10. Dalea azurea (Phil.) Reiche
11. Dalea bacchantum Barneby
12. Dalea bartonii Barneby
13. Dalea bicolor Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
14. Dalea boliviana Britton
15. Dalea boraginea Barneby
16. Dalea botterii (Rydb.) Barneby
17. Dalea brachystachya A.Gray
18. Dalea brandegeei (Rose) Bullock
19. Dalea caeciliae Harms
20. Dalea cahaba J.R.Allison
21. Dalea candida Willd.
22. Dalea capitata S.Watson
23. Dalea carnea (Michx.) Poir.
24. Dalea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F.Macbr.
25. Dalea ceciliana B.L.Turner
26. Dalea choanosema Barneby
27. Dalea chrysophylla Barneby
28. Dalea cinnamomea Barneby
29. Dalea cliffortiana Willd.
30. Dalea coerulea (L.f.) Schinz & Thell.
31. Dalea compacta Spreng.
32. Dalea conetensis A.E.Estrada & Villarreal
33. Dalea confusa (Rydb.) Barneby
34. Dalea cora Barneby
35. Dalea crassifolia Hemsl.
36. Dalea cuatrecasasii Barneby
37. Dalea cuniculocaudata Paul G.Wilson
38. Dalea cyanea Greene
39. Dalea cylindrica Hook.
40. Dalea cylindriceps Barneby
41. Dalea daucosma Barneby
42. Dalea dipsacea Barneby
43. Dalea dispar C.V.Morton
44. Dalea dorycnioides DC.
45. Dalea drummondiana Shinners
46. Dalea elata Hook. & Arn.
47. Dalea elegans Gillies ex Hook.
48. Dalea emarginata (Torr. & A.Gray) Shinners
49. Dalea emmae Rzed. & Calderón
50. Dalea enneandra Nutt.
51. Dalea eriophylla S.Watson
52. Dalea erythrorhiza Greenm.
53. Dalea escobilla Barneby
54. Dalea estoraxana Rzed. & Calderón
55. Dalea exigua Barneby
56. Dalea exilis DC.
57. Dalea exserta (Rydb.) Gentry
58. Dalea feayi (Chapm.) Barneby
59. Dalea fieldii (J.F.Macbr.) J.F.Macbr.
60. Dalea filiciformis C.B.Rob. & Greenm.
61. Dalea filiformis A.Gray
62. Dalea flavescens (S.Watson) Welsh
63. Dalea floridana (Rydb.) J.Diggs & Weakley
64. Dalea foliolosa (Aiton) Barneby
65. Dalea foliosa (A.Gray) Barneby
66. Dalea formosa Torr.
67. Dalea frutescens A.Gray – Plant FAQs: Dalea Frutescens – Black Dalea
68. Dalea galbina (J.F.Macbr.) J.F.Macbr.
69. Dalea gattingeri (A.Heller) Barneby
70. Dalea glumacea Barneby
71. Dalea grayi (Vail) L.O.Williams
72. Dalea greggii A.Gray
73. Dalea gymnocodon Barneby
74. Dalea gypsophila Barneby
75. Dalea hallii A.Gray
76. Dalea hegewischiana Steud.
77. Dalea hemsleyana (Rose) Bullock
78. Dalea hintonii Sandwith
79. Dalea holwayi Rose
80. Dalea hospes (Rose) Bullock
81. Dalea humifusa Benth.
82. Dalea humilis G.Don
83. Dalea illustris Barneby
84. Dalea insignis Hemsl.
85. Dalea isidori Barneby
86. Dalea jaliscana A.E.Estrada & Villarreal
87. Dalea jamesii (Torr.) Torr. & A.Gray
88. Dalea jamesonii (J.F.Macbr.) J.F.Macbr.
89. Dalea janosensis A.E.Estrada & Villarreal
90. Dalea kuntzei Harms ex Kuntze
91. Dalea lachnantha S.Schauer
92. Dalea lachnostachys A.Gray
93. Dalea lamprostachya Barneby
94. Dalea lanata Spreng.
95. Dalea laniceps Barneby
96. Dalea lasiathera A.Gray
97. Dalea leporina (Aiton) Bullock
98. Dalea leptostachya DC.
99. Dalea leucosericea (Rydb.) Standl. & Steyerm.
100. Dalea leucostachya A.Gray
101. Dalea luisana S.Watson
102. Dalea lumholtzii C.B.Rob. & Fernald
103. Dalea lutea (Cav.) Willd.
104. Dalea macrotropis S.Schauer
105. Dalea mcvaughii Barneby
106. Dalea melantha S.Schauer
107. Dalea mexiae Barneby
108. Dalea minutifolia (Rydb.) Harms
109. Dalea mixteca Barneby
110. Dalea mollis Benth.
111. Dalea mollissima (Rydb.) Munz
112. Dalea moquehuana J.F.Macbr.
113. Dalea mountjoyae M.Woods
114. Dalea mucronata DC.
115. Dalea multiflora (Nutt.) Shinners
116. Dalea myriadenia Ulbr.
117. Dalea nana Torr. ex A.Gray
118. Dalea nelsonii (Rydb.) Barneby
119. Dalea nemaphyllidia Barneby
120. Dalea neomexicana (A.Gray) Cory
121. Dalea nobilis Barneby
122. Dalea obovata (Torr. & A.Gray) Shinners
123. Dalea obovatifolia Ortega
124. Dalea obreniformis (Rydb.) Barneby
125. Dalea onobrychis DC.
126. Dalea ornata (Douglas ex Hook.) Eaton & Wright
127. Dalea parrasana Brandegee
128. Dalea pazensis Rusby
129. Dalea pectinata Kunth
130. Dalea pennellii (J.F.Macbr.) J.F.Macbr.
131. Dalea phleoides (Torr. & A.Gray) Shinners
132. Dalea pinetorum Gentry
133. Dalea pinnata (J.F.Gmel.) Barneby
134. Dalea piptostegia Barneby
135. Dalea plantaginoides Barneby
136. Dalea pogonathera A.Gray
137. Dalea polygonoides A.Gray
138. Dalea polystachya Barneby
139. Dalea pringlei A.Gray
140. Dalea prostrata Ortega
141. Dalea pseudocorymbosa A.E.Estrada & Villarreal
142. Dalea pulchella G.Don
143. Dalea pulchra Gentry
144. Dalea purpurea Vent. – Plant FAQs: Dalea Purpurea – Purple Prairie Clover
145. Dalea purpusii Brandegee
146. Dalea quercetorum Standl. & L.O.Williams
147. Dalea radicans S.Watson
148. Dalea reclinata (Cav.) Willd.
149. Dalea reverchonii (S.Watson) Shinners
150. Dalea revoluta S.Watson
151. Dalea rosarum Rzed. & Calderón
152. Dalea rubescens S.Watson
153. Dalea rubriflora A.E.Estrada, Mart.-Ram., A.Mares & Ocampo
154. Dalea rubrolutea Barneby
155. Dalea rupertiana Rzed. & Calderón
156. Dalea rupertii A.E.Estrada, Villarreal & M.González
157. Dalea rzedowskii Barneby
158. Dalea sabinalis (S.Watson) Shinners
159. Dalea saffordii (Rose) Bullock
160. Dalea scandens (Houst. ex Mill.) R.T.Clausen
161. Dalea scariosa S.Watson
162. Dalea schiblii R.Medina & M.Sousa
163. Dalea searlsiae (A.Gray) Barneby
164. Dalea sericea Lag.
165. Dalea sericocalyx (Rydb.) L.Riley
166. Dalea similis Hemsl.
167. Dalea simulatrix Barneby
168. Dalea smithii J.F.Macbr.
169. Dalea sousae Barneby
170. Dalea strobilacea Barneby
171. Dalea tentaculoides Gentry
172. Dalea tenuicaulis Hook.f.
173. Dalea tenuifolia (A.Gray) Shinners
174. Dalea tenuis (J.M.Coult.) Shinners
175. Dalea thouinii Schrank
176. Dalea tolteca Barneby
177. Dalea tomentosa (Cav.) Willd.
178. Dalea transiens Barneby
179. Dalea tridactylites Barneby
180. Dalea trifoliata Zucc.
181. Dalea trochilina Brandegee
182. Dalea uniflora (Barneby) G.L.Nesom
183. Dalea urceolata Greene
184. Dalea verna Barneby
185. Dalea versicolor Zucc.
186. Dalea verticillata Cruz Durán, D.Sandoval & García-Mend.
187. Dalea villosa (Nutt.) Spreng.
188. Dalea virgata Lag.
189. Dalea viridiflora S.Watson
190. Dalea weberbaueri Ulbr.
191. Dalea wigginsii Barneby
192. Dalea wilsonii Piñeros-U. & F.González
193. Dalea wrightii A.Gray
194. Dalea zimapanica S.Schauer

The Importance of Dalea

Beyond their aesthetic value, Dalea species play a crucial role in their respective ecosystems. Their nitrogen-fixing abilities improve soil fertility, benefiting other plants in the community. They also serve as important food sources for various insects, birds, and mammals. Some Dalea species have even been used traditionally for medicinal purposes.

Conservation Efforts

Despite their hardiness, some Dalea species face threats due to habitat loss, overgrazing, and the introduction of invasive species. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of these valuable plants. This includes protecting their natural habitats, promoting responsible land management practices, and raising awareness about their importance.

My Continued Exploration

My journey with Dalea is far from over. I’m eager to continue exploring this captivating genus, delving deeper into its taxonomy, ecology, and evolutionary history. I believe that understanding and appreciating plants like Dalea is essential for fostering a greater respect for the natural world and promoting its conservation.