Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Smith, R.W.
Chamaecrista nictitans
Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench
Sensitive Partridge Pea, Partridge-pea, Sensitive Pea
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: CHNI2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI (N)
Partridge-pea or sensitive pea is a slender-stemmed annual, up to 1 ft. tall, with pinnately-compound leaves. Each leaf is made up of numerous small, yellow-green leaflets which fold together when touched. The small, yellow flowers hang from short, axillary pedicels.
Like other members of the pea family, this plant requires the presence of microorganisms that inhabit nodules on the plant's root system and produce nitrogen compounds necessary for the plant's survival.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , AZ , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WVNative Distribution: VT to extreme s.e. KS, s. to FL & TX
Native Habitat: Open woods; prairies; thickets; wet or dry shores
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Description: Sandy soils.
Propagation
Commercially Avail: yesMr. Smarty Plants says
Native ground cover to replace grass in Florida.
February 04, 2008
Where can I find a list of ground covers to replace my grass. I live in the south of Ocala Florida.
view the full question and answer
National Wetland Indicator Status
| Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
| Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU |
Bibliography
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.Search More Titles in Bibliography
Research Literature
Reslit 211 - Can inconspicuous legumes facilitate alien grass invasions? Partridge peas and fountain grass in Hawai'i (2002) D. A. Carino and C. C. DaehlerReslit 550 - Selecting Chamaecrista spp. for soil stabilisation and forage in southern China (2001) J. B. Hacker, S. L. Wen, Z. Y. Ying and B. C. Peng...
Reslit 1193 - Seed predators are undeterred by nectar-feeding ants on Chamaecrista nictitans (Caesalpineaceae) (2003) S. Ruhren
Reslit 1194 - Jumping spiders (Salticidae) enhance the seed production of a plant with extrafloral nectaries (1999) S. Ruhren and S. N. Handel
Reslit 1342 - Mycorrhizal species identity affects plant community structure and invasion: a microcosm study (2003) E. D. Stampe and C. C. Daehler
Reslit 1554 - Variation in temperature requirements for germination and early seedling root development in Chamaecrista rotundifolia and three allied species (2000) M. G. Xu, C. K. McDonald, C. J. Liu and J. B. Hack...
Reslit 1835 - Multiple pleurograms in Chamaecrista moench (Leguminosae, caesalpinioideae) (2008) O. C. De-Paula and D. M. T. Oliveira
Reslit 1930 - In vitro antiviral activity of Chamaecrista nictitans (Fabaceae) against herpes simplex virus: Biological characterization of mechanisms of action (2004) L. H. Uribe, E. C. Olarte and G. T. Castillo
Reslit 2554 - Cytogenetics of species of Chamaecrista (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) native to southern Brazil (2006) E. Biondo, S. T. S. Miotto and M. T. Schifino-Witt...
This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature
Additional resources
USDA: Find Chamaecrista nictitans in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Chamaecrista nictitans in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Chamaecrista nictitans
Metadata
Record Modified: 2015-12-10Research By: TWC Staff