Stem 4-10 dm, hirsutulous with mostly de flexed hairs; lower lvs long-petioled, pinnately compound, the segments pinnately lobed and incised; upper lvs 3-foliolate with cuneate-obovate segments, or merely 3-lobed; pedicels minutely puberulent and densely hirsute, the hairs commonly 1-1.5 mm long; sep triangular, 4-10 mm; pet white, 3-5 mm; head of achenes subglobose, 12-18 mm; receptacle glabrous or with a few short bristles; achenes 3-5 mm, excluding the style, glabrous or sparsely hirsute; 2n=42. In moist or wet soil; N.S. to s. Ont. and Mich., s. to N.J., w. Va., W.Va., Ky., and Mo. May, June.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
This species is found more or less infrequently in low ground in woodland, on the borders of swamps, ponds, and lakes, and more abundantly in roadside ditches and along fences. [Deam's G. laciniatum var. trichocarpum has hispid carpels. This form is] found in the habitats of [plants with glabrous carpels] but probably more frequent. The map shows the distribution of my specimens but it may also be found in the southern part of the state. It has been reported from southern Indiana by seven early authors. When these authors made their reports, however, our manuals did not separate Geum canadense from Geum laciniatum and its variety. Since Geum canadense is a species common to the southern counties, it is probable that all or most of these reports should be referred to Geum canadense or Geum virginianum.