Partridge pea against a blue sky

Another thing I saw beneath a clear sky on the Blackland Prairie in northeast Austin on the morning of September 12th was flowers of partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata. The dark red markings near the base of some of the petals are a characteristic of this species, as is the inward curve of one petal. Also notice the yellow stripes on some of the maroon stamens.

To see the many places in the United States where partridge pea grows, you can consult the state-clickable map at the USDA website.

© 2013 Steven Schwartzman