Psorothamnus scoparius
{{Short description|Species of legume}}
{{Speciesbox
|genus=Psorothamnus
|species=scoparius
|authority=(A.Gray) Rydb.
}}
Psorothamnus scoparius is a thornless bush in the bean family (Fabaceae), native to North America.{{cite web |title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin |url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PSSC6#:~:text=USDA%20Native%20Status%3A%20L48%20(N,like%20flowers%20are%20dark%2Dblue. |website=www.wildflower.org |publisher=The University of Texas at Austin}}{{Cite web |title=ITIS Standard Report Page: Psorothamnus scoparius |url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=504647#null |access-date=2020-09-01 |website=www.itis.gov |publisher=Integrated Taxonomic Information System}} It is known as broom smokebush and broom dalea.{{cite web |title=SEINet Portal Network - Psorothamnus scoparius |url=https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxauthid=1&taxon=226741&clid=4761# |website=swbiodiversity.org |publisher=SEINet Arizona-New Mexico Chapter |accessdate=1 September 2020}}
Distribution and habitat
Psorothamnus scoparius is native to the southwestern United States, particularly sandy areas within New Mexico's Rio Grande valley. It is rarely seen in adjacent states and the northernmost region of Chihuahua, Mexico. The shrub typically grows in high deserts at elevations of {{cvt|3000 to 6000|ft}}, centered in the sand scrub communities of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion but extending into the Little Colorado River valley of northeastern Arizona, at lower elevations of the Colorado Plateau.{{cite web |title=Plants Profile for Psorothamnus scoparius (broom dalea) |url=http://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=PSSC6 |website=plants.usda.gov |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture}}{{cite web |title=Psorothamnus scoparius (Gray) Rydb. |url=http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?rep=rep1&type=pdf&doi=10.1.1.214.611#:~:text=Range.,habitat%2C%20usually%20in%20sandy%20soils. |website=Cite Seer |publisher=CiteSeer |accessdate=1 September 2020}}
Description
Broom dalea is a small shrub with grey colored branches and a broom-like appearance. Purple flowers and only a few simple leaves appear after rains.{{Cite web |title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin |url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PSSC6 |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.wildflower.org}}