Perennials; usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent. Rhizomes (unsegmented), cylindrical, 2–10 mm diam., (somewhat uniform, fleshy, not fragile, with dentate leaf-scars). Stems erect, unbranched, (1.2–) 1.5–3.5 (–4) dm, rarely sparsely pubescent distally. Rhizomal leaves 3-foliolate, (5.5–) 8–22 (–26) cm, leaflets petiolulate or subsessile; petiole (3–) 4.5–16 (–20) cm; lateral leaflets subsessile or petiolulate, blade often similar to terminal, base sometimes oblique; terminal leaflet (petiolule 0.5–1.2 cm), blade ovate-elliptic to broadly ovate, (2–) 3.5–8 (–10) cm × (5–) 20–65 (–80) mm, base cuneate to obtuse, margins coarsely crenate or dentate, (surfaces puberulent, trichomes to 0.1 mm). Cauline leaves 2 (or 3) [(sub) opposite], 3-foliolate, (similar to rhizomal leaves), petiolate, leaflets petiolulate or subsessile; petiole (1–) 2–4.5 cm, base not auriculate; lateral leaflets similar to terminal; terminal leaflet subsessile or petiolulate (0.2–1 cm), blade broadly elliptic to ovate, (2–) 4–8 (–10) cm × 10–50 mm, margins coarsely dentate or crenate, (margins minutely puberulent). Racemes ebracteate. Fruiting pedicels ascending to divaricate, (10–) 15–30 (–36) mm. Flowers: sepals oblong, (4–) 5–8 × 2–3 mm, lateral pair slightly saccate basally; petals white or pink to purple, obovate to oblanceolate, (7–) 9–15 (–17) × (3–) 4–7 mm, (short-clawed, apex rounded); filaments: median pairs 5–8 mm, lateral pair 3.5–6 mm; anthers linear to oblong, 2.5–3 mm. Fruits linear-lanceolate, 1.5–4 cm × 1.5–2.5 mm; ovules 10–14 per ovary; style 4–8 (–10) mm. Seeds (rarely produced) brown, oblong, 2–2.2 × 1.2–1.5 mm (cotyledons incumbent). 2n = 96.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Wooded bottoms and ravines, cliffs, bluffs, ledges, shaded slopes, meadows, moist fields, alluvial banks, rich woods
Elevation: 50-1300 m

Distribution

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N.B., N.S., Ont., Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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