procumbent, herbaceous; stem retrorsely-hispid or glabrescent; leaflets hastate-trilobed, the lobes obtuse, the medial lobe much the longest; lateral leaflets unequal-sided, their upper lobe obsolete; stipules peltate, constricted at the insertion, and prolonged downwards, ovate; peduncles elongate, 2-flowered at the summit; calyx campanulate, the lobes falcato-lanceolate, longer than the tube; carina broadly ovato-falcate, acute; legume straight, terete, hispid. Stems 1–2 feet long or more, weak, somewhat angular. Leaflets variable in breadth, and in incision; sometimes narrow-hastate, 1–2 inches long, the medial lobe 2–6 lines wide, 10–15 lines long, the lateral widely spreading, narrow-oblong, 5–6 lines long, 2 broad; sometimes the terminal leaf only is distinctly 3-lobed, the lateral leaflets being obliquely-ovate and subacute. The stipules are constantly peltate in insertion, vertical, rigid, 2-lobed, the lobes directed contrary ways. Pods 3–3 1/2 inches long, 2 lines wide. Var. β. is an extravagantly narrow leaved form, but has the remarkable stipules of the species.
