Classification
Family: Leguminosae
Subfamily: Mimosoideae
Tribe: Mimoseae
Group: Pitadenia
Genus: Schrankia
Species: microphylla

Identification
Here is how Small describes the species: "Stem with rather slender curved prickles: blades of the leaflets narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, 3.5-7mm long: upper peduncles mostly shorter than the leaves: pod mostly 9-15cm long, much longer than the peduncle: seed fully 4mm long." The flowers have spherous, pink heads about 2cm in diameter (Bell et al., 1982, Hall, 1993). The genus was originally described by Willdenow, the species by Dryander.

Geography
Schrankia microphylla is found throughout the Southeastern United States from Florida to Louisiana, Kentucky, and Maryland. Isely also describes two variations; microphylla is found throughout the range and floridana only in Florida and SE Georgia (Isely 1990).

Schrankia microphylla
AREA	STATUS	REFERENCES
North America: Continental United States; Canada	Yes	Isely, 1990
Eastern North America: United States east of Mississippi; Ontario and eastern Canada	Yes	Isely, 1990
Southeastern United States: AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV	Yes, not AK DE WV	Isely, 1990
Southern Appalachian States: AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV	Yes, not WV	Isely, 1990
Coastal Plain	Yes	(map book)
Piedmont	Widespread	Michael Shields, pers. obs.
Blue Ridge Mountains	Yes	(map book)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park	?
Ridge and Valley	Yes	(map book)
Cumberland Plateau	Yes	(map book)
Central Arch	?
Georgia	Widespread	UGA Herbarium
Clarke County, Georgia	Yes	UGA Herbarium
Sams Farm	?
Old Field	?
Wetland	?
Woods	?
1-Hectare Plot	?

Natural History
Schrankia microphylla is called sensitive briar because the leaves fold up when stimulated by touch or dakness, and not because they are sensitive to environmental conditions. The plant is "notable on stony, shallow soils but thrives on deeper soils (www.conservation.state.mo.us). The briar is high in protein and nutritive for grazing animals. The flowers bloom from May to August.

photo courtesy Michael E Abrams at Florida Wildflower Showcase

How to Encounter

These plants are thorny briars that send tendrils along the ground. The leaves resemble fern fronds. Schrankia microphylla is easily recognizable by its flower if it is blooming (see image). It grows on sandhills, pinelands and disturbed sites (Hall 1993).