Dalea mollissima – “Downy Dalea”

Also Known As: Silky Dalea, Hairy Dalea, Soft Prairie Clover
Other Botanical Names: Dalea neomexicana
Family: Legume, Bean (Fabaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-May
Form: Perennial herb
Habitat: Desert flats, washes
Leaves: Pinnately divided into obovate leaflets; alternate
Translation: “Dalea” is named after Samuel Dale (1659-1739), an English physician, botanist, gardener, and author (including of a treatise on medicinal plants); “mollissima” is Latin for “very soft”; “neomexicana” refers to the US state of New Mexico.