Chamaecrista fasciculata, the partridge pea, is a species of legume native to most of the eastern United States.[2] It is an annual which grows to approximately 0.5 meters tall.[2] It has bright yellow flowers from early summer until first frost,[3] with flowers through the entire flowering season if rainfall is sufficient.[2]
The flowers are hermaphroditic, although a fraction of plants, less than 5%, do not produce sufficient pollen to reproduce as males. This phenomenon has been studied in a variety of plants as a possible evolutionary step towards dioecy, in which male and female flowers occur on separate plants.[3]C. fasciculata is pollinated only by bees.[4]
It thrives in areas that have been burned recently before declining in number in the following years.[2] It is considered an excellent choice for planting in disturbed areas, as it will quickly cover an area, preventing erosion, while still allowing other plants to become established.[2] It is also grown as an ornamental or for honey production.[2]
The leaves consist of 10 to 15 pairs of small, narrow leaflets that are somewhat delicate to the touch. Like other legumes, the plant displays nyctinasty, which is a circadian rhythmicnastic movement wherein the leaves open and close in response to day and night cycles.[6] The showy yellow flowers, about 1 inch across, grow 2 to 4 together in clusters on the stem. Flowers normally bloom July-September. The fruit is a straight, narrow pod 1½ to 2½ inches long, which splits along 2 sutures as it dries; the pod sides spiral to expel the seeds some distance from the parent plant.[7]
Wildlife
The seed is one of the major food items of northern bobwhite and other quail species because it remains in sound condition throughout the winter and early spring. Partridge pea was found to be one of the most important fall and winter foods of bobwhite quail in Alabama. Partridge pea seeds are high in phosphorus content and protein value, and low in crude fiber and lignin making digestibility generally high. Seeds of this legume are also eaten by the greater and lesser prairie-chicken, ring-necked pheasant, mallard, grassland birds, and field mice. Partridge pea often grows in dense stands, producing litter and plant stalks that furnish cover for upland game birds, small mammals, small non-game birds, and waterfowl. Partridge pea is considered an important honey plant, often occurring where few other honey plants are found. Nectar is not available in the flowers of showy partridge pea but is produced by small orange glands at the base of each leaf. Ants often seek the nectar and are frequent visitors. The common sulfur butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves, and the larvae use the leaves as a food source.[7]
References
^"NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.
^ abcdefgTesky, Julie L. (1992). "Chamaecrista fasciculata". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
^ abHolly L. Williams and Charles B. Fenster (1998). "Ecological and genetic factors contributing to the low frequency of male sterility in Chamaecrista Fasciculata (Fabaceae)". American Journal of Botany. Botanical Society of America. 85 (9): 1243–1250. doi:10.2307/2446634. JSTOR 2446634. PMID 21685010.
^TD Lee, FA Bazzaz (1982). "Regulation of fruit and seed production in an annual legume, Cassia fasciculata". Ecology. Ecology, 1982. 63 (5): 1363–1373. doi:10.2307/1938864. JSTOR 1938864.
^Hilty, John (2020). "Partridge Pea". Illinois Wildflowers.
^Hollenbach, Charles B. (1951). "A Biological Study: A General Study of the Two Species from Different Localities". Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Penn State University Press. 25: 36. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
^ ab"PARTRIDGE PEA" (PDF). Plants.udsa.gov. (PDF) from the original on 2008-09-20. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chamaecrista fasciculata.
Charles B. Fenster (1991). "Gene flow in Chamaecrista fasciculata (Leguminosae) I. Gene dispersal" (PDF). Evolution. 45 (2): 398–409. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1991.tb04413.x. PMID 28567876. S2CID 21171645.
March 10, 2023
chamaecrista, fasciculata, partridge, species, legume, native, most, eastern, united, states, annual, which, grows, approximately, meters, tall, bright, yellow, flowers, from, early, summer, until, first, frost, with, flowers, through, entire, flowering, seaso. Chamaecrista fasciculata the partridge pea is a species of legume native to most of the eastern United States 2 It is an annual which grows to approximately 0 5 meters tall 2 It has bright yellow flowers from early summer until first frost 3 with flowers through the entire flowering season if rainfall is sufficient 2 Chamaecrista fasciculataConservation statusSecure NatureServe 1 Scientific classificationKingdom Plantae unranked Angiosperms unranked Eudicots unranked RosidsOrder FabalesFamily FabaceaeGenus ChamaecristaSpecies C fasciculataBinomial nameChamaecrista fasciculata Michx GreeneSynonymsCassia fasciculata Michx Cassia chamaecrista Irwin and Barneby 1982The flowers are hermaphroditic although a fraction of plants less than 5 do not produce sufficient pollen to reproduce as males This phenomenon has been studied in a variety of plants as a possible evolutionary step towards dioecy in which male and female flowers occur on separate plants 3 C fasciculata is pollinated only by bees 4 The flowers have yellow anthers that produce reproductive pollen and purple anthers that produce food pollen but no nectar 2 Long tongued bees such as bumblebees honey bees long horned bees and leafcutting bees pollinate the flowers There are extrafloral nectaries on the leaf stems which attract a different set of insects sweat bees flies wasps and ants 5 It thrives in areas that have been burned recently before declining in number in the following years 2 It is considered an excellent choice for planting in disturbed areas as it will quickly cover an area preventing erosion while still allowing other plants to become established 2 It is also grown as an ornamental or for honey production 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Wildlife 3 References 4 External linksDescription EditThe leaves consist of 10 to 15 pairs of small narrow leaflets that are somewhat delicate to the touch Like other legumes the plant displays nyctinasty which is a circadian rhythmic nastic movement wherein the leaves open and close in response to day and night cycles 6 The showy yellow flowers about 1 inch across grow 2 to 4 together in clusters on the stem Flowers normally bloom July September The fruit is a straight narrow pod 1 to 2 inches long which splits along 2 sutures as it dries the pod sides spiral to expel the seeds some distance from the parent plant 7 Wildlife EditThe seed is one of the major food items of northern bobwhite and other quail species because it remains in sound condition throughout the winter and early spring Partridge pea was found to be one of the most important fall and winter foods of bobwhite quail in Alabama Partridge pea seeds are high in phosphorus content and protein value and low in crude fiber and lignin making digestibility generally high Seeds of this legume are also eaten by the greater and lesser prairie chicken ring necked pheasant mallard grassland birds and field mice Partridge pea often grows in dense stands producing litter and plant stalks that furnish cover for upland game birds small mammals small non game birds and waterfowl Partridge pea is considered an important honey plant often occurring where few other honey plants are found Nectar is not available in the flowers of showy partridge pea but is produced by small orange glands at the base of each leaf Ants often seek the nectar and are frequent visitors The common sulfur butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves and the larvae use the leaves as a food source 7 References Edit NatureServe Explorer 2 0 explorer natureserve org a b c d e f g Tesky Julie L 1992 Chamaecrista fasciculata Fire Effects Information System FEIS US Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Sciences Laboratory Retrieved 2019 03 12 a b Holly L Williams and Charles B Fenster 1998 Ecological and genetic factors contributing to the low frequency of male sterility in Chamaecrista Fasciculata Fabaceae American Journal of Botany Botanical Society of America 85 9 1243 1250 doi 10 2307 2446634 JSTOR 2446634 PMID 21685010 TD Lee FA Bazzaz 1982 Regulation of fruit and seed production in an annual legume Cassia fasciculata Ecology Ecology 1982 63 5 1363 1373 doi 10 2307 1938864 JSTOR 1938864 Hilty John 2020 Partridge Pea Illinois Wildflowers Hollenbach Charles B 1951 A Biological Study A General Study of the Two Species from Different Localities Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science Penn State University Press 25 36 Retrieved 2021 08 19 a b PARTRIDGE PEA PDF Plants udsa gov Archived PDF from the original on 2008 09 20 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chamaecrista fasciculata Charles B Fenster 1991 Gene flow in Chamaecrista fasciculata Leguminosae I Gene dispersal PDF Evolution 45 2 398 409 doi 10 1111 j 1558 5646 1991 tb04413 x PMID 28567876 S2CID 21171645 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chamaecrista fasciculata amp oldid 1128512463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
