Sheep's Burr

Plant 25–40 cm high, stems erect or ascending, glabrous or sparsely appressed-pilose.

Leaves usually 9–15-foliolate, sometimes to 25-foliolate; leaflets ovate to oblong, longest 10–12 mm long, 6–10 mm wide, hairs confined to main veins on the lower surface, glabrous or sparsely pilose above.

Flowers and fruiting hypanthia in long interrupted spikes with 3 or 4 flowers scattered on the stem below; peduncles ± glabrous to sparsely pilose. Fruiting hypanthia ovoid, ± wrinkled; spines many, ± equal, 1–4 mm long, glabrous to pilose.