Index of Species Information
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
|
|
 |
| Photo by Clarence A. Rechenthin, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. |
Introductory
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Tesky, Julie L. 1992. Chamaecrista fasciculata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station,
Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/chafas/all.html [].
Revisions: On 3 November 2015, the common and scientific names of
this species were changed from: showy partridgepea, Cassia fasciculata
to: partridgepea, Chamaecrista fasciculata
Citations were added [40,43] to support this change.
ABBREVIATION :
CHAFAS
SYNONYMS :
Cassia chamaecrista L. documented in [40]
Cassia fasciculata Michx. [4,13,18]
Cassia fasciculata forma mutata Fern.
Cassia fasciculata forma transmutata Fern.
Cassia fasciculata var. fasciculata
Cassia fasciculata var. brachiata (Pollard) Pullen ex Isely
Cassia fasciculata var. depressa (Pollard) Macbr
Cassia fasciculata var. macrosperma Fern.
Cassia fasciculata var. puberula (Greene) J. F. Macbr.
Cassia fasciculata var. robusta Pollard
Cassia fasciculata var. rostrata (Woot. & Standl.) B. L. Turner [4,13,16,18,27]
NRCS PLANT CODE : [40]
CAFA
CAFAF
CAFAM2
COMMON NAMES :
partridge pea
dwarf cassia
golden cassia
large-flowered sensitive-pea
locust weed
partridgepea senna
prairie partridgepea
prairie senna
showy partridgepea
sleepingplant
TAXONOMY :
The scientific name of partridge pea is Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.)
Greene (Fabaceae). There are 2 varieties [40,43]:
Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata
Chamaecrista fasciculata var. macrosperma (Fernald) C.F. Reed
LIFE FORM :
Forb
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
No special status
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Partridge pea is found throughout the central, south-central, and
eastern United States. It also extends north from South Dakota to
southern Ontario, and east to New York [16,30].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES12 Longleaf - slash pine
FRES13 Loblolly - shortleaf pine
FRES14 Oak - pine
FRES15 Oak - hickory
FRES31 Shinnery
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES41 Wet grasslands
STATES :
AL AK AR CT DE FL GA IL IN IA
KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
NE NH NJ NY NC OH OK PA RI SC
SD TN TX VT VA WV WI ON PE PQ
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
14 Great Plains
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K059 Trans-Pecos shrub savanna
K062 Mesquite - live oak savanna
K069 Bluestem - grama prairie
K071 Shinnery
K074 Bluestem prairie
K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie
K076 Blackland prairie
K077 Bluestem - sacahuista prairie
K081 Oak savanna
K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100
K084 Cross Timbers
K086 Juniper - oak savanna
K087 Mesquite - oak savanna
K089 Black belt
K090 Live oak - sea oats
K100 Oak - hickory forest
K104 Appalachian oak forest
K110 Northeastern oak - pine forest
K111 Oak - hickory - pine forest
K112 Southern mixed forest
K115 Sand pine scrub
SAF COVER TYPES :
40 Post oak - blackjack oak
45 Pitch pine
52 White oak - black oak - northern red oak
53 White oak
64 Sassafras - persimmon
69 Sand pine
70 Longleaf pine
71 Longleaf pine - scrub oak
75 Shortleaf pine
76 Shortleaf pine - oak
78 Virginia pine - oak
79 Virginia pine
80 Loblolly pine - shortleaf pine
81 Loblolly pine
82 Loblolly pine - hardwood
83 Longleaf pine - slash pine
84 Slash pine
85 Slash pine - hardwood
89 Live oak
98 Pond pine
110 Black oak
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
A published classification listing showy partridge pea as an understory
dominant is listed below:
Landscape ecosystem classification for South Carolina - Jones 1991
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Partridge pea seeds are a valuable food for northern bobwhite in
the Southeast [21,24,34]. Wild legumes, including showy partridge pea,
were found to be the most important fall and winter foods of northern
bobwhite in the Alabama Piedmont forests of slash pine (Pinus elliottii),
loblolly pine (P. taeda), and shortleaf pine (P. echinata) [34]. Seeds
of this legume are also eaten by the greater and lesser prairie-chicken,
ring-necked pheasant, mallard, brown thrasher, cotton rat, and field
mouse [15,29]. The seeds have been found in the food caches of Louisiana
pocket gopher [15].
A cathartic substance is present in the leaves and seeds of partridge
pea. The substance is effective either in fresh plant material
or in dry hay [19,39]. Domestic livestock will eat partridge pea
leaves. However, if large quantities are consumed, the animal may be
stressed and die. Deer can eat it without being poisoned [5,39].
PALATABILITY :
Partridge pea leaves and seeds are presumably palatable to some
wildlife species and livestock.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
Partridge pea seeds are high in phosphorus content and protein
value, and low in crude fiber and lignin. Digestibility of legumes is
generally high [31].
COVER VALUE :
Partridge pea often grows in dense stands, producing litter and
plant stalks that furnish cover for upland gamebirds, small mammals,
small nongame birds, and waterfowl [15,39].
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
Partridge pea is considered an excellent species for planting on
disturbed areas for erosion control and improving soil fertility. It
establishes rapidly, fixes nitrogen, reseeds, and slowly decreases as
other species in the seeding mix begin to dominate the site [8,33]. In
one study, partridge pea had a nitrogen-fixing potential of 25.9 to
87.0 micro-moles of acetylene daily per plant. It had the fastest
growth rate and the greatest nitrogen-fixing potential of the five
leguminous species studied. Nitrogen fixation was greatest during the
flowering stage [6].
Seeds of partridge pea are readily available from commercial seed
sources [39]. It has been seeded on soil-lignite overburden, and in the
post oak (Quercus stellata) savannah of Texas, where it grew rapidly and
had the greatest aerial cover and aboveground biomass of all seeded
forbs during the first growing season. It slowly gave way to developing
perennials over a period of 3 to 4 years [33]. To prevent weed
establishment and control soil erosion along county roadsides in Iowa,
partridge pea is often included in the seed mix with other forbs
and grasses [11].
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
Partridge pea is commonly grown as an ornamental [39]. In Georgia
and Florida it is considered an important honey plant, often occurring
where few other honey plants are found. Nectar is not available in the
flowers of partridge pea but is supplied by the petiolar glands
[15,39].
OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Although partridge pea foliage is nutritious, it can be poisonous
and should be considered potentially dangerous to cattle (see Importance
to Livestock and Wildlife) [16].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Partridge pea is a native annual legume [15,16,30,39]. It ranges
in height from 0.6 inch to 3 feet (0.15-0.91 m) but usually grows to 2
feet (0.61 m) [16,39]. The stems are erect or ascending, branching
freely from the base. The leaves are 1.18 to 3.34 inches (3-11 cm)
long. Partridge pea has a taproot. Secondary roots are well
developed, forming a fibrous root system [6].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Therophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Flowers and Fruit: Partridge pea flowers are cross-pollinated by
bees, flies, and ants [4]. The fruit is a legume containing 9 to 15
seeds [39]. Seeds are ingested and dispersed in droppings of birds and
small mammals [15,16,39].
Seed germination: Germination is improved by scarification and
stratification [25,39]. Boiling partridge pea seeds for 15 to 60
seconds softens the seed coat and increases germination. Nicking the
seed with a razor blade will also increase germination [25].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Partridge pea is common on disturbed areas throughout its range.
It often forms extensive colonies along firelines, roadside ditches, and
old fields [16,39]. It grows on prairies, bluffs, riverbanks and
riverbottoms, as well as upland woods of the Great Plains [39]. Partridge
pea is common on sandy flatwoods of xerophytic deciduous and
coniferous forests in the uplands of the lower Gulf Coastal Plain [26].
Soils: Partridge pea is most common on sandy to sandy loam soils
[30,39]. It grows best in full sunlight and has low water requirements
[30]. The lower pH limit of partridge pea is 5.0 [41].
Associate species: Partridge pea is often found associated with
the following species: purpletop (Tridens flavus), wild-honeysuckle
(Gaura filiformis), Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis), threeawn
(Aristida desmantha), rough bottonweed (Diodia teres), broomsedge
(Andropogon virginicus), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), sumac (Rhus
spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.), panicgrass (Panicum spp.), indiangrass
(Sorghastrum nutans), sensitive partridge pea (Chamaecrista nictitans),
lespedeza (Lespedeza spp.), and ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) [3,32].
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Partridge pea most commonly occurs as a pioneer or colonizer of
disturbed areas. It also occupies but is less abundant in mid- to
late-seral stages of grassland and forest succession [6,11,38]. Partridge
pea was most abundant in the initial community following
harvest of all but a few scattered oaks (Quercus spp.) in a east Texas
upland forest. It was found to be considerably less abundant in
adjacent uncut wooded areas [38].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
Partridge pea generally flowers from June through October
[6,22,30,39]. In years of normal rainfall, the bright yellow flowers
appear continuously through most of the growing season [16].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Partridge pea is favored by frequent fire. Both on-site,
fire-scarified seeds and off-site seeds are an important source for
colonizing burned areas [1,35,36,37].
FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find Fire Regimes".
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Fire kills partridge pea [35,37]. High-severity fires may
consume seeds stored in the seed bank.
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
Partridge pea generally increases in abundance after fire and will
decrease in the absence of fire or other disturbance [1].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
Partridge pea greatly increased in frequency following two spring
fires in consecutive years at a southern Illinois barren. However, it
showed a rapid decline in frequency following fire cessation. Sampling
took place during the summer after each burn. Following the spring fire
in 1970 partridge pea quadrat frequency was 64; however, by
postfire year 15, quadrat frequency had declined to 2 [1].
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Prescribed fire can greatly increase the quantity and availability of
partridge pea seed to northern bobwhite and other wildlife species
[25]. If managing areas for the maintenance of partridge pea, the
season of burning is important. If burned as early as January, the
fire-scarified seed may germinate prematurely, and the seedlings may be
killed by March frosts [35,36,37]. Burns should be conducted after the
danger of late frosts has passed and before growth has started [35].
Nitrogen is a main nutrient lost during fire. Partridge pea can be
planted on burned sites to restore nitrogen to the soil [42].
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Chamaecrista fasciculata
REFERENCES :
1. Anderson, Roger C.; Schwegman, John E. 1991. Twenty years of
vegetational change on a southern Illinois barren. Natural Areas
Journal. 11(2): 100-107. [16256]
3. Barber, Brad L.; Messina, J. Suzanne; Van Buijtenen, Johannes P.; Wall,
Margot M. 1991. Influence of nursery fertilization, site quality, and
weed control on first-year performance of outplanted loblolly pine. In:
Coleman, Sandra S.; Neary, Daniel G., compilers. Proceedings, 6th
biennial southern silvicultural research conference: Vol. 1; 1990
October 30 - November 1; Memphis, TN. Gen. Tech. Rep. SE-70.. Asheville,
NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest
Experiment Station: 27-37. [17459]
4. Bare, Janet E. 1979. Wildflowers and weeds of Kansas. Lawrence, KS: The
Regents Press of Kansas. 509 p. [3801]
5. Barkley, T. M. 1983. Field guide to the common weeds of Kansas.
Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. 164 p. [3802]
6. Becker, Donald A.; Crockett, Jerry J. 1976. Nitrogen fixation in some
prairie legumes. American Midland Naturalist. 96(1): 133-143. [4569]
7. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p.
[434]
8. Cull, Margaret Irene. 1978. Establishing prairie vegetation along
highways in the Peoria area. In: Glenn-Lewin, David C.; Landers, Roger
Q., Jr., eds. Proceedings, 5th Midwest prairie conference; 1976 August
22-24; Ames, IA. Ames, IA: Iowa State University: 172-177. [3378]
9. Cushwa, Charles T.; Hopkins, Melvin; McGinnes, Burd S. 1970. Response of
legumes to prescribed burns in loblolly pine stands of the South
Carolina Piedmont. Res. Note SE-140. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6
p. [11587]
10. Duncan, Wilbur H.; Duncan, Marion B. 1987. The Smithsonian guide to
seaside plants of the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts from Louisiana to
Massachusetts, exclusive of lower peninsular Florida. Washington, DC:
Smithsonian Institution Press. 409 p. [12906]
11. Ehley, Alan M. 1990. Program encourages use of prairie species on
roadsides. Restoration & Management Notes. 8(2): 101-102. [14156]
11. Ellis, Jack A.; Edwards, William R.; Thomas, Keith P. 1969. Responses of
bobwhites to management in Illinois. Journal of Wildlife Management.
33(4): 749-762. [16070]
12. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
13. Fernald, Merritt Lyndon. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. [Corrections
supplied by R. C. Rollins]. Portland, OR: Dioscorides Press. 1632 p.
(Dudley, Theodore R., gen. ed.; Biosystematics, Floristic & Phylogeny
Series; vol. 2). [14935]
14. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others].
1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range
ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
15. Graham, Edward H. 1941. Legumes for erosion control and wildlife. Misc.
Publ. 412. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 153 p.
[10234]
16. Grelen, Harold E.; Hughes, Ralph H. 1984. Common herbaceous plants of
Southern forest range. Res. Pap. SO-210. New Orleans, LA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest and Range
Experiment Station. 147 p. [2946]
17. Jones, Steven M. 1991. Landscape ecosystem classification for South
Carolina. In: Mengel, Dennis L.; Tew, D. Thompson, eds. Ecological land
classification: applications to identify the productive potential of
southern forests: Proceedings of a symposium; 1991 January 7-9;
Charlotte, NC. Gen.Tech. Rep. SE-68. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station:
59-68. [15709]
18. Kartesz, John T.; Kartesz, Rosemarie. 1980. A synonymized checklist of
the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. Volume
II: The biota of North America. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North
Carolina Press; in confederation with Anne H. Lindsey and C. Richie
Bell, North Carolina Botanical Garden. 500 p. [6954]
19. Kingsbury, John M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and
Canada. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 626 p. [122]
20. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Manual to accompany the map of potential vegetation
of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
American Geographical Society. 77 p. [1384]
21. Lewis, Clifford E.; Harshbarger, Thomas J. 1986. Burning and grazing
effects on bobwhite foods in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Wildlife
Society Bulletin. 14: 455-459. [11952]
22. Lonard, Robert I.; Judd, Frank W. 1989. Phenology of native angiosperms
of South Padre Island, Texas. In: Bragg, Thomas B.; Stubbendieck, James,
eds. Prairie pioneers: ecology, history and culture: Proceedings, 11th
North American prairie conference; 1988 August 7-11; Lincoln, NE.
Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska: 217-222. [14049]
23. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species originating in northern
Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 7 p. [20090]
24. Martin, Alexander C.; Zim, Herbert S.; Nelson, Arnold L. 1951. American
wildlife and plants. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 500 p.
[4021]
25. Martin, Robert E.; Miller, Robert L.; Cushwa, Charles T. 1975.
Germination response of legume seeds subjected to moist and dry heat.
Ecology. 56: 1441-1445. [4169]
26. Pessin, L. J. 1933. Forest associations in the uplands of the lower Gulf
Coastal Plain (longleaf pine belt). Ecology. 14(1): 1-14. [12389]
27. Radford, Albert E.; Ahles, Harry E.; Bell, C. Ritchie. 1968. Manual of
the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of
North Carolina Press. 1183 p. [7606]
28. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
29. Schramm, Harold L., Jr.; Smith, Loren M.; Bryant, Fred C.; [and others].
1987. Managing for wildlife with the Conservation Reserve Program.
Management Note 11. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University, Department of
Range and Wildlife Management. 6 p. [9634]
30. Sharp Bros. Seed Co. 1989. Catalog of wildflowers and forbs. Amarillo,
TX: Sharp Bros. Seed Co. 20 p. [18001]
31. Short, Henry L.; Epps, E. A., Jr. 1976. Nutrient quality and
digestibility of seeds and fruits from southern forests. Journal of
Wildlife Management. 40(2): 283-289. [10510]
32. Simpson, Ronald C. 1972. Relationship of postburn intervals to the
incidence and success of bobwhite nesting in southwest Georgia. In:
Proceedings, 1st national bobwhite quail symposium; [Date of conference
unknown]; Stillwater, OK. [Place of publication unknown]. [Publisher
unknown]. 150-158. [16208]
33. Skousen, J. G.; Call, C. A. 1987. Grass and forb species for
revegetation of mixed soil-lignite overburden in east central Texas.
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 42(6): 438-442. [10012]
34. Speake, Dan W. 1966. Effects of controlled burning on bobwhite quail
populations and habitat of an experimental area in the Alabama piedmont.
Proceedings, Annual Conference of Southeastern Association of Game and
Fish Commissions. 20: 19-32. [14649]
35. Stoddard, Herbert L. 1961. The use of controlled fire in southeastern
game management. In: The Cooperative Quail Study Association: May 1,
1931-May 1, 1943. Misc. Publ. No. 1. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers
Research Station: 179-197. [15068]
36. Stoddard, Herbert L. 1961. Use of controlled fire in southeastern upland
game management. In: The Cooperative Quail Study Association: May 1,
1931-May 1, 1943. Misc. Publ. No. 1. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers
Research Station: 434-439. [Reprinted from: Journal of Forestry. 33(3),
March, 1935]. [15078]
37. Stoddard, Herbert L. 1961. Relation of burning to timber and wildlife.
In: The Cooperative Quail Study Association: May 1, 1931-May 1, 1943.
Misc. Publ. No. 1. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station:
444-447. [15079]
38. Stransky, J. J.; Halls, L. K.; Nixon, E. S. 1976. Plants following
timber harvest: importance to songbirds. Texas Forestry Pap. No. 28.
Nacogdoches, TX: Stephen F. Austin State University, School of Forestry.
13 p. [15292]
39. Stubbendiek, James; Conard, Elverne C. 1989. Common legumes of the Great
Plains: an illustrated guide. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
330 p. [11049]
40. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2015.
PLANTS Database, [Online]. Available: https://plants.usda.gov
/ [34262]
41. Vogel, Willis G. 1981. A guide for revegetating coal minespoils in the
eastern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-68. Broomall, PA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest
Experiment Station. 190 p. [15577]
42. Wells, C. G.; Campell, Ralph E.; DeBano, Leonard F.; [and others]. 1979.
Effects of fire on soil: state-of-knowledge review. WO-7. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 34 p. [6734]
43. Kartesz, J. T.; The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic
Data Center, [Online]. Chapel Hill, NC: The Biota of North America
Program (Producer). Available online: bonap.org. [maps generated from
Kartesz, J. T. 2010. Floristic synthesis of North America, Version 1.0.
Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]. [84789]
FEIS Home Page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/chafas/all.html
