Chamaecrista fasciculata
Encyclopedia
Chamaecrista fasciculata (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.
The flowers are hermaphroditic (contain both male and female parts) although a small number of plants (less than 5%) do not produce sufficient pollen
to reproduce as males (and are thus called male steriles). 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). C. fasciculata is pollinated only by bee
s. The gene dispersal via pollen transfer and seed dispersal averaged 17.6 square meter neighborhood area.
It thrives in areas that have been burned recently, but will decline in numbers in the years following a fire. It is considered an excellent choice for planting in disturbed areas, as it will quickly cover an area, preventing erosion, and decline as other plants become established. It is also grown as an ornamental or for honey production.
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
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.
The flowers are hermaphroditic (contain both male and female parts) although a small number of plants (less than 5%) do not produce sufficient pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
to reproduce as males (and are thus called male steriles). 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). C. fasciculata is pollinated only by bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s. The gene dispersal via pollen transfer and seed dispersal averaged 17.6 square meter neighborhood area.
It thrives in areas that have been burned recently, but will decline in numbers in the years following a fire. It is considered an excellent choice for planting in disturbed areas, as it will quickly cover an area, preventing erosion, and decline as other plants become established. It is also grown as an ornamental or for honey production.