Prairie Thermopsis-Thermopsis rhombifolia

This striking yellow flower in the Pea Family (Fabaceae) growing next to streams is prairie thermopsis (Thermopsis rhombifolia). It is also known as golden pea, golden banner, false lupine, and prairie goldenpea.

Thermopsis means "resembling lupine" and rhombifolia means diamond-shaped, referring to the leaves. Prairie thermopsis has leaves divided like lupine, but only three leaflets, not five.

The yellow flowers are usually grouped with 7-30 on a loose raceme.

For more information about prairie thermopsis, click here.