Mallow Family The flower is pretty, but looks can be deceiving, this can be a nasty weed due to the spines! Annual Where seen: Great Smoky Mountains NP, Warrior's Path SP, widespread
Pea Family This is member of the Pea Family. I found it blooming in Oak Ridge in mid-July. Perennial Where seen: Oak Ridge Greenways, Big Ridge State Park, Great Smoky Mountains NP
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.
