Hop Clover

Height: 15–35 cm (6–14 in.). Stem erect, branched at base, smoothly haired.
Flower: Corolla zygomorphic, initially golden yellow, finally yellowish brown, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in.) long, fused at base. Petals 5; the upstanding the ‘standard’, the lateral two the ‘wings’, the lower two united to form the ‘keel’, overall shape of corolla being butterfly-like, standard notched. Calyx 5-lobed, fairly glabrous. Stamens 10. A single carpel. Inflorescence a long-stalked, 12–20 mm, (0.5–0,8 in.) long, racemose head.
Leaves: Alternate, stalked, stipulate. Blade with 3 leaflets, leaflets elliptic, shallowly toothed, terminal leaflet unstalked. Stipules lanceolate, mainly united with stalks, same length as or longer than leaf-stalks.
Fruit: Indehiscent pod, remains inside calyx.
Habitat: Dry meadows, meadows, roadsides, banks.