Notice the ants on the small reddish-brown dots on the stem. This plant in the Pea Family has these patches (a.k.a. extra-floral nectaries) to attract the ants as protectors to keep other insects from eating the plant. Vetches and other wildflowers in the pea family have these nectaries.
Pea Family When you touch the small, mimosa-like leaves of this plant they close! I found this plant growing in the University of Tennessee Arboretum. It is in the Pea Family. Annual Where seen: Oak Ridge Greenways, University of Tennessee Arboretum, Warrior's Path SP, widespread {Formerly known as: Cassia nictitans}
Pea or Bean Family (INN) Rank 3 This non-native wildflower would have been considered a "weed" by the folks whose garden it had invaded! It is easy to identify once the long fruits start to develop. This was found in late August in Oak Ridge. There is another wildflower called Sicklepod (Arabis canadensis), it is in the Mustard Family. This is why scientific names are so important! Annual Perennial Where seen: Oak Ridge {Formerly known as: Cassia obtusifolia}
