Shrub to 3 m (9 ft) tall. Stems hairy, striate. Leaves 20-35 cm (8-14 in) long. Leaflets usually 15-19, oblong to ovate, 3-8 cm (1.2-3 in) long and 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) wide, rounded at both ends, hairy when young, shiny-glabrous above and tomentose below at maturity, veins conspicuous below. Inflorescence a large panicle 20-40 cm (8-16 in) long. Flowers numerous, small, purple. Fruits legumes about 6-8 mm (0.2-0.3 in) long, pubescent with large gland-dots.
Distribution: Southern Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, Louisiana, eastern Texas.
Habitat: Wet floodplain forests.
NWI status: FACW
Comment: Amorpha means "without form" and refers to the one-petaled flowers; paniculata refers to the large panicled inflorescence.
Distribution in Oklahoma:
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Last update: 9/8/99
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