A small annual legume with yellow flowers and seed-rich pods that feed bobwhite, deer mice, and other wildlife. Roots fix nitrogen, building soil for prairie communities.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Chamaecrista fasciculata, the partridge pea, is a species of legume native to most of the eastern United States. It is an annual which grows to approximately 0.5 meters tall. It has bright yellow flowers from early summer until first frost, with flowers through the entire flowering season if rainfall is sufficient.
Source: Wikipedia — Chamaecrista fasciculata Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Slender annual with compound leaves; yellow flowers with darker spots.
Similar species. Other Chamaecrista species. Sensitive Plant.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Native legume; nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Important food for quail and other ground birds. Flowers attract many native pollinators.
§ Range
Eastern and central US
§ Habitat
Open sunny meadows, prairies, disturbed soils, road shoulders
§ Threats
Roadside mowing destroying seed sets, herbicide spraying.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the partridge pea is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native partridge pea in sunny meadows. Don't mow roadsides until seed set. Skip herbicide drift.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Chamaecrista fasciculata
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Chamaecrista fasciculata
- iNaturalist · taxon 50901
- IUCN Red List — search for Chamaecrista fasciculata
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Chamaecrista fasciculata
§ Sources cited
- USDA Plants Database
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
