Fibrous-rooted biennial; lvs 3-5-parted; bractlets like the bracts but smaller; fls white, the fertile on pedicels 0.5-1 mm, the sterile few, mostly concealed by the fertile; sep subulate, surpassing the pet; anthers white; fr subglobose, on pedicels 1-1.5 mm, the bristles surpassing the inconspicuous styles and about equaling the sep; 2n=16. Woods; Vt. and s. Ont. to Minn. and S.D., s. to Fla. and Tex. 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

Our most common sanicle. Frequent in all parts of the state except in the northern counties where it is infrequent to rare. Moist or dry woods, usually associated with some species of oak but sometimes in beech and sugar maple woods.

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Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 2

Wetland Indicator Status: FACU

Diagnostic Traits: biennial; basal leaves palmately compound, leaflets 3-5; bristle-covered fruits in clusters of 3, styles short; sepals to 1 mm, subulate; anthers white; male flowers 1-3 on typical variety, 3-15 on var. grandis, their pedicels <2 mm (longer in var. grandis).