Roots fibrous; stem stout, 5-15 dm, glandular and ±long-hirsute; stipules large and foliaceous, semicordate, 1-2 cm wide; principal lfls of the larger lvs 5-9, lance-ovate to elliptic or obovate, coarsely and often bluntly serrate, glabrous or nearly so above, beneath conspicuously glandular, sparsely hirsute chiefly or wholly on the veins; axis of the infl glandular, also hirsute with long spreading hairs; pedicels hirsute; hypanthium glandular only, or with a few short stiff hairs below, 3-5 mm at maturity, expanded above; bristles numerous in several rows; 2n=56. Moist or dry open woods; Me. to Ont. and Mont., s. to N.J., Ind., Kans., and in the mts. to Tenn. and N.C.; also in Calif. and N.M.

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

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

More or less frequent throughout the lake area. It is usually found in dry soil, but is also sometimes found in moist soil, especially where the soil is of a sandy nature. Since this species and the next two [Agrimonia rostellata and A. pubescens] were formerly regarded as an aggregate, all of the reports made prior to our present manuals must be ignored because we do not know to which species they should be referred. From the specimens at hand it seems that this species is northern in its distribution, while the other two are found throughout the state.

......

Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 2

Wetland Indicator Status: FACU

Diagnostic Traits: Major leaflets 9 or less; stipules deeply dentate; axis of racemes minutely glandular; sepals >2 mm; petals yellow; fruits (including hooked bristles) >5 mm.