Trifolium barbigerum
Trifolium albopurpureum
bearded clover
Indian clover, rancheria clover
decumbent or erect, branched.
erect, branched from base.
palmate;
stipules ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–1.1 cm, margins toothed or lacerate, apex acute-acuminate;
petiole 1–10 cm;
petiolules to 0.5 mm;
leaflets 3, blades oblanceolate or obovate, 1.5–2.5 × 0.4–0.7 cm, base cuneate, veins fine, thickened distally, margins ± serrate or entire, apex rounded or retuse, surfaces pubescent or glabrous.
palmate;
stipules elliptic-ovate, 0.6–1 cm, margins entire, toothed, or remotely lobed, ciliate, apex acuminate;
petiole 0.5–7 cm;
petiolules 1 mm;
leaflets 3, blades obovate or elliptic, 0.5–2 × 0.2–1 cm, base cuneate, veins obscure or slightly thickened, margins serrate, apex acute or obtuse, often retuse, surfaces pubescent.
axillary or terminal, 5–20-flowered, subglobose or globose, 0.6–1.5 × 1–1.5 cm;
involucres bowl-shaped, 5–15 mm, lobes 6–10, sharply setaceous-toothed, sinuses shallow.
axillary or terminal, 25–50-flowered, ovoid-ellipsoid, 1–1.8 × 0.8–1.5 cm;
involucres absent.
5–10 cm.
0.5–10 cm.
straight, 0.2 mm;
bracteoles absent.
absent;
bracteoles absent.
4–6 mm;
calyx campanulate, 5–9 mm, usually pubescent, rarely glabrous, veins 5, tube 2–3 mm, lobes ± equal, setaceous, often exceeding banner, orifice open;
corolla usually lavender to purple, usually with white tips, rarely wholly white, 5–8 mm, banner broadly oblong, proximally inflated in fruit, distally narrowed into twisted tip, 6–8 × 6–8 mm, apex broadly acute.
6–9 mm;
calyx campanulate, 6–8 mm, densely pubescent, veins 10 (additional faint veins sometimes present), tube 1–2 mm, lobes unequal, narrowly triangular, subulate, sinuses rounded, lobes divergent, orifice open;
corolla white with purple tips, 4–6 mm, banner narrowly elliptic, 6–7 × 2 mm, apex acute, slightly erose.
ovoid-ellipsoid, 2–3 mm.
broadly ellipsoid, 2.8–3.2 mm.
1 or 2, brown, ellipsoid to subglobose, 1–1.5 mm, slightly roughened.
1 (or 2), yellow or brown, often red-mottled, ellipsoid, 2–2.6 mm, smooth, glossy.
= 16.
= 16.
Trifolium barbigerum
Trifolium albopurpureum
Trifolium barbigerum is relatively common and widespread in California, and extends northward into Coos, Curry, and Jackson counties in Oregon. It is morphologically similar to T. physanthum of Chile, to which it is a sister species in phylogenetic studies (N. W. Ellison et al. 2006).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Trifolium albopurpureum is a widespread member of a closely allied group of species, including T. amoenum, T. dichotomum, and T. columbinum, that intergrade to varying degrees and may co-occur in some populations. The great similarity among these species has led to a maddening array of synonyms as new suites of species have been recognized and various new combinations have been made. In spite of the resultant confusion, these species are relatively distinct and are differentiated on the following characters: inflorescences generally greater than 3 cm diam. (T. amoenum) versus less than 2.5 cm diam. in the others; corollas usually 8–12 mm with calyx lobes 2–3 times the tube (T. dichotomum), versus corollas usually 5–8.5 mm with calyx lobes 3–6 times the tube; calyces 8–12+ mm with lobes exceeding the corollas by 3–6 mm (T. columbinum), versus calyces 4–9 mm with lobes equaling the corollas or exceeding them by 1.5–2 mm (D. Isely 1998; M. A. Vincent and Isely 2012).
Trifolium albopurpureum is widespread in California, northward through Oregon in coastal counties, and with scattered populations known from Washington and Arizona.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
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