Photo of Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

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© Julia Szilvas

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Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 2 plant ID/comparison guides:

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) vs. Persian Silktree (Albizia julibrissin)

Updated September 16th, 2024

These two nitrogen-fixing legumes are frequently confused as seedlings. Both have compound leaves with leaflets of similar size and shape, and both are earlier colonizers of sunny, disturbed habitats. The robust, often reddish-colored stalk of partridge pea can lead it to be confused with a woody plant. Mature plants are wildly dissimilar, and young plants are easily distinguished by close examination of leaf structure.

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Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) vs. Sensitive Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)

Updated September 30th, 2021

These two species look similar, have wide ranges of overlap, and can sometimes occur in the same habitat. They are easily told apart by flowers, but can be challenging to tell apart otherwise. With magnification, they can be told apart by examining the petiolar glands. Chamaecrista fasciculata is often slightly larger and upright in habit, and ranges farther northwest, where it can be found in prairies. Chamaecrista nictitans ranges farther northeast as well as farther south.

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