Partridge Peas (Chamaecrista fasciculata & Chamaecrista nictitans)

August 18th, 2012. With the rainfall we’ve had recently, roadsides in many counties in the Piedmont are lined by forests of partridge pea plants that are blooming profusely. Two species, Chamaecrista fasciculata and Chamaecrista nictitans, occur in this area.

Chamaecrista fasciculata is the showier of the two species – sometimes called the Showy Partridge Pea - and is responsible for most of the roadside displays.  

 

The flowers open completely.

Chamaecrista nictitans has smaller flowers, that…

rarely open completely so that it’s not as showy as its cousin, C. fasciculata.

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The seedpods, green and ripe.

Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea, Common Partridge Pea, Showy Partridge Pea) is native of the United States, where it’s found in states southeast of a line from Massachusetts to Wisconsin and South Dakota and southwest to Texas and New Mexico. In Georgia, it’s found in many counties throughout the state.

 Chamaecrista nictitans (Sensitive Partridge Pea) is native of the United States, where it’s found in states southeast of a line from Maine to Wisconsin and Illinois and southwest to Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona. In Georgia, it’s found in many counties throughout the state.

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Identification resources:

Southeastern Flora:

- Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea)

- Chamaecrista nictitans (Sensitive Partridge Pea)

Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:

- Chamaecrista fasciculata (Common Partridge Pea, Showy Partridge Pea)

- Chamaecrista nictitans (Common Sensitive-plant)

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:

- Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea)

- Chamaecrista nictitans (Sensitive Partridge Pea)

University of North Carolina Herbarium:

- Chamaecrista fasciculata

- Chamaecrista nictitans