|
| Acmispon glaber |
| Family: Fabaceae (Legume) |
| Flowers — color: yellow, size: 1/4", type: pea, banner & keel |
The small Deerweed flower has classic pea flower structure with banner, wings, and keel [see Pacific pea]. The petals are bright yellow, but will age to red. Honeybees wrestle to open the petals and extract the nectar.
Half a dozen flowers form a tight cluster. Blooms appear after the rains and continue to August.
Habit:
Deerweed is a perennial herb or subshrub with a short life. Multiple stems with many branches form a messy, interweaved dome, up to 3' high by 6' diameter. The stems and branches hold small deciduous leaves in groups of three. American Deerweed has broader leaves and different form.
Deerweed is a pioneer species that prefers disturbed soils. The roots help fix nitrogen from the air. I enjoy its appearance when it arrives in my sideyard, but the dried up twigs present a fire hazard and should be removed. Open sunny areas, grows in shade with less vigor.