Biennial; lvs 3-parted, the lfls coarsely and doubly serrate to incised, the lateral often deeply lobed; bractlets ovate, subscarious; fls white, the fertile sessile, the staminate few, on slender pedicels to 8 mm and much exceeding the fertile; sep lance-subulate, exceeding the pet; fr ovoid to oblong, 6-8 mm, including the comparatively few bristles, the sep lanceolate, connivent, exceeding the bristles, forming a conspicuous beak 2-2.5 mm; oil-tubes numerous. Woods; Vt. and adj. Que. to s. Wis. and ne. Io., s. to N.C. and Tenn. June-Aug.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam

Infrequent to probably rare in all parts of the state. In moist or dry woods, more often in beech and sugar maple woods than in white and black oak woods.

Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 8

Wetland Indicator Status: N/A

Diagnostic Traits: biennial; basal leaves palmately compound, leaflets 3; bristle-covered fruits in clusters of 3, topped with a beak-like crown, styles short; sepals longer than petals, subulate; anthers white; male flowers 3-5, pedicels 3-8 mm, slender.