Partridgepea may be found throughout the eastern half of the United States.
Cotyledons are without hairs.
Each leaflet is linear to oblong in outline, approximately to 1 inch long by 2 to 4 mm wide. All leaflets occur on a petiole and a distinctive gland occurs on the underside of the petiole below the first leaflet pair. Branching only rarely, hairy, and can reach 3 feet in height. Flowers consist of 5 bright yellow petals and have some red mottling. A legume that is linear in outline, approximately 1 to 3 inches long and 4 to 6 mm wide.