Irish Shamrock Questions

[brogz]

Well my little brother has a Irish Shamrock plant. The other day I was planting it in a bigger pot and I noticed these sort of node type things at the base of the plant. I was wondering what these were.

Also I've seen pictures of the plant with flowers on it and the one my little brother has never opens up. Its like they form and what not but they never fully open any idea what this could be.