It looks like it might be an astrantia.

Sanicula canadensis????

Napaea dioica, Glade Mallow?

Geranium maculatum?

I am thinking that it could be Sanicula canadensis, take a look at this picture of it and compare the two plants. If you crush a leaf of the plant in the original post, does it have an odd smell to it? Does the crushed leaf have any smell at all?

https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=87724

I don't think it's Glade Mallow which has longer leaflets. It could be Sanicula, though the rigidity of the leaflets isn't typical for the species?🤔

More

Next is back of leaf

There are many more teeth on the leaflets of Sanicula canadensis than there are on this plant. And there are also 3 other Sanicula species that grow in east central Indiana.

Sanicula odorata

Sanicula trifoliata

• Sanicula marilandica

Compare to Aconitum uncinatum.

Jay, thanks for this. I’m still puzzling on this, because it is such a tight, tidy clump. No sign of extension yet beyond thos 5” stems. I will keep watching to see how it changes, but the leaves look very similar to the Aconitum uncinatum.

How do you feel about something else in the Ranunculaceae?

I am open to any ideas, floral. So far nothing really seems to fit. Happy to take more pics if you think that would help!

Something like Anemonella/Anemone canadensis?

Pics from this spring, and I’m thinking Sanicula odorata, thanks to all of you!