Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea) is a species of legume native to most of the eastern United States. It is an annual which grows to approximately 0.5 meters tall. It has bright yellow flowers from early summer until first frost, with flowers through the entire flowering season if rainfall is sufficient.
The flowers are hermaphroditic, although a fraction of plants, less than 5%, do not produce sufficient pollen to reproduce as males. This phenomenon has been studied in a variety of plants as a possible evolutionary step towards dioecy, in which male and female flowers occur on separate plants. C. fasciculata is pollinated only by bees.
It thrives in areas that have been burned recently before declining in number in the following years. It is considered an excellent choice for planting in disturbed areas, as it will quickly cover an area, preventing erosion, while still allowing other plants to become established. It is also grown as an ornamental or for honey production.
- "Cassia fasciculata". Fire Effects Information System.
- Holly L. Williams and Charles B. Fenster (1998). "Ecological and genetic factors contributing to the low frequency of male sterility in Chamaecrista Fasciculata (Fabaceae)". American Journal of Botany (Botanical Society of America) 85 (9): 1243–1250. doi:10.2307/2446634. JSTOR 2446634.
- TD Lee, FA Bazzaz. "Regulation of fruit and seed production in an annual legume, Cassia fasciculata". Ecology, 1982. JSTOR 1938864.
- Charles B. Fenster. "Gene flow in Chamaecrista fasciculata (Leguminosae) I. Gene dispersal". Evolution, 1991.