Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, disjunct in northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho.
Habitat: Prairie and forest edges at low elevations.
Flowers: May-June
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees
Herbaceous, glandular-dotted, sparingly branched perennial 5-7 dm. tall.
Leaves alternate, trifoliate, the leaflets ovate-lanceolate, entire, 2.5-4 cm. long; stipules linear.
Inflorescence a short, congested, axillary, pedunculate raceme with 15-20 flowers; flowers pea-like, 9-12 mm. long; calyx black-hairy, tubular, 6-8 mm. long, the 5 teeth lanceolate, equal; banner of the corolla yellowish-green, about equaling the wings, the keel purplish-tipped; stamens 10, the filaments united.
Pod 5 mm. long, globose, sparsely dark-hairy.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Rupertia physodes in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Rupertia physodes checklist entry
OregonFlora: Rupertia physodes information
E-Flora BC: Rupertia physodes atlas page
CalPhotos: Rupertia physodes photos