Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Summer.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness, August 5, 2007.

At first glance this blur of a myriad of green stems, white flowers, and brown seeds certainly does not appear to be a Pea.  Even a closer look at the flowers still leaves one confused about the family.  This is the only member of our native Peas in which, quoting Intermountain Flora, "the keel and wing petals are inserted in sockets on the staminal column, not directly on the hypanthium rim".  It is difficult to see this without a hand lens, since, as you can see in the flower photos below, petals and stamens twist and overlap.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Summer.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness, August 5, 2007.

The photograph at left shows the lovely but twisted and tangled form of the flowers.  The photograph immediately below magnifies the flower in the lower right of the photograph at left.  

In the photograph below the hypanthium (the cup formed by the fused bases of the stamens, petals, and sepals) is red.  At the top center is a large white petal, the banner.  Overlapping the lower right of the banner is a brilliant white petal, the keel. Follow the narrow stem of the keel down toward the center of the photograph and you will see it attached.  Follow left and downward around the point of attachment and you will see that the spatula-shaped petal (one of the "wings") at the seven o'clock position in the photograph is attached to the same structure.  Immediately to the right you will see two stamens attached and then the next petal (the other wing).

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Summer.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness, August 5, 2007.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Summer.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness, August 5, 2007.

Gone to seed.