# partridge pea (*Chamaecrista fasciculata*) The partridge pea is a bright yellow flower that blooms in the summer. It grows low to the ground and is loved by many butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 30 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![partridge pea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Partridge.jpg&width=800) Photo: Crazytwoknobs, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Partridge.jpg) ## Appearance The partridge pea is a low-growing plant with delicate, fern-like leaves that fold up at night. It has bright yellow flowers, often with a striking reddish-brown spot near the base of the petals. Its bushy form and vibrant blooms make it stand out in sunny fields. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Chamaecrista ## Interesting facts - Found almost everywhere in the eastern and central United States, often by roadsides! - It's a crucial snack for caterpillars of the pretty Cloudless Sulphur butterfly! - Its fern-like leaves actually fold up tightly every night, like going to sleep! - Some flowers have a mysterious dark spot, almost like a secret bullseye for insects! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Guard:** Partridge pea has tiny nectar glands on its leaf stems that attract ants, which then help protect the plant from hungry herbivores. - **Soil Builder:** Partridge pea works with special bacteria in its roots to pull nitrogen from the air, enriching the soil for itself and other plants. - **Seed Slinger:** Partridge pea's ripe seed pods can burst open with surprising force, flinging their seeds far away to spread new plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Early Fall (July-October) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects pollen and nectar - **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — vibrates flowers to release pollen - **Eaten by:** Cloudless Sulphur butterfly (*Phoebis sennae*) — caterpillars feed on its leaves - **Eaten by:** [Northern Bobwhite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-bobwhite) (*Colinus virginianus*) — eats its protein-rich seeds - **Symbiotic with:** nitrogen-fixing bacteria (*Bradyrhizobium japonicum*) — forms nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify partridge pea? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is partridge pea? 30-90 cm ### How wide does partridge pea spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on partridge pea? 2-3 cm ### When does partridge pea bloom? Summer to Early Fall (July-October) ### Is partridge pea edible? No ### Is partridge pea toxic? None ### What is partridge pea's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-valley-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [High Trestle Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-trestle-trail) — Iowa, US · Trail - [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyndon-b-johnson-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park [View all places to see partridge pea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/partridge-pea) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Partridge Pea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/partridge-pea)