Flower:

A single flower is at the end of a hairy stalk that arises from a leaf axil. Flowers are 1/8 to ¼ inch long, white or yellowish white and a typical shape for a member of the Pea family. Behind the flower are long narrow bracts covered in long white hairs. One plant has many flowers, on branching stems.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are mostly compound in groups of 3, alternately attached with little or no leaf stalk. A single simple leaf is also attached to the flower stalk, just below the bracts. Leaflets are up to ¾ inch long and ¼ inch wide, toothless, hairy, with a pointed tip and tapering or rounded at the base. The main stem is densely covered in fine hairs.

Fruit:

Fruit is a slender bean-like pod, about 1 inch long.

Notes:

This plant also goes by the synomym Lotus unifoliolatus. It is not very widespread in Minnesota and not found in any of my field guides, so it was a bit of a challenge to identify. It was a surprise find, too, since there was no record of it in the Twin Cities area until now.