Hairless stems and leaves; leaves divided into 3 leaflets, broad and ovate to narrow and oval, small teeth on reddish edges; leaflets often fold upwards slightly along mid-vein, and have prominent, lighter-colored side veins.
Weak stemmed; leaves mostly basal, few alternate stem leaves, divided into 3 oval, finely toothed leaflets; flower head rounded, to 1 inch wide with many red, purple, pink, or white pea-like flowers; flat, fused, sharp-tipped bracts form 10-veined tube.
Habitat
Found in moist soils and wet areas in coniferous forests and along streams
Flower Characteristics
Usually more than 10 flowers, in round heads greater than 1/2 inch wide; flowers 1/2 inch long; whorl of bracts that are divided nearly to the base create thin lobes that surround the heads; fine thin hairs on stalk.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Trifoliate (3 leaflets) leaves, leaflets narrower at base, lance-shaped to oval, with rounded, squared, or broad tips, margins finely toothed; stipules (appendages at base of stem) lance-like with long, pointed tips, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Small, cylindrical and tapering (terete) pods, not splitting open to release seed when ripe (indehiscent).
1 to 4 seeds.