prarie smoke

Geum triflorum
Perennial Herb
​A striking flower, growing low to the ground in sparse patches. 
DESCRIPTION:

Flower
This truly unique flower is on of a kind. It's bloom isn't the ordinary petals, instead it shows as a little ball with 5 bright pink arms reaching from behind. These arms can face forward or curl backwards. Each flower is  about ½-1 inch long. Later in the season the ball opens upward to reveal it's seeds as tiny wisps. Each covered in hair, they will be taken on the wind to sprout more plants.
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WHOLE PLANT:

Stem
The beautiful magenta stem is skinny and short, ranging from 8-18 inches. It is empty until the top, when it branches into three different parts to support a bloom on each on. As well as a cluster of branches and occasionally two little leaves around the blooms. It is covered in tiny white hairs all the way around.
Leaves
The leaves are uniquely shaped. Each leaf is long with little leaflets growing from each side, ending with one leaflet at the top. The top side is medium green while the bottom side is a lighter green, both covered in little hairs. The leaves grow in clusters at the base of the stem, though they sometimes appear at the top  of the plant in a tiny green and purple combination
Root
This plant has fibrous roots and rhizomes. It uses the rhizomes to spread and create new plants
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Hence its name, Prairie Smoke tends to live in prairies and meadows. It requires lots of sunlight, and avoids competition with taller plants. 
WHEN TO FIND IT:
It's stalk grows early in the spring, and the flower blooms by May or June.