SafePlants

Searls' Prairie Clover (Dalea searlsiae)

Searls' prairie clover, scientifically known as Dalea searlsiae, is a perennial legume with potential for rangeland revegetation in the western United States. It is commonly referred to as Searls' prairie clover.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is described as a "non-toxic legume."

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Dalea searlsiae (A. Gray) Barneby
• Common Name: Searls' prairie clover
• Synonym: Petalostemon.
• Family: Fabaceae (Legume or Pea family)
• Genus: Dalea L.

Distribution and Habitat

• Dalea searlsiae is native to the southern portion of the Great Basin, specifically found in southern Nevada and the eastern Mojave Desert.
• It thrives in sandy or gravelly soils, often in sagebrush or pinyon-juniper environments.

Morphological Characteristics

• Dalea searlsiae is a perennial forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
• It has glabrous (smooth) stems that grow in clusters and ascend to a height of 3-5 dm.
• The leaves are generally odd-1-pinnate, with 5-7 obovate to oblong leaflets measuring 10-16 mm.
• The flowers are purple and grow in odd clusters at the ends of the stems. The plant produces long flower spikes (15 to 21 inches) with tighter blooms similar to the western prairie clover (Dalea ornata)

Ecological Role

• Dalea searlsiae is a nitrogen-fixing legume, contributing to soil fertility.
• It is being explored for rangeland revegetation and restoration programs in the western U.S. due to the limited availability of native legumes for this purpose.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It is a plant that is pollinated by seed beetles.

Quirky Facts

• The plant is named after Fanny Searls, a botanist.

Further Information

• Plant Symbol: DASE3
• USDA NRCS Plant Database (Idaho and Utah Plant Materials Center)