The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

field clover, hop clover, hop trefoil, low hop-clover, pinnate hop clover

golden clover, golden hop clover, greater hop clover, hop clover, large hop clover, large hop trefoil, palmate hop clover, yellow clover

Habit Herbs annual, 5–40 cm, slightly villous or glabrous. Herbs annual, 20–60 cm, glabrous or hirsute.
Stems

erect to ascending, branched.

erect, unbranched or profusely branched.

Leaves

pinnate;

stipules ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–0.8 cm, margins entire, glandular, apex acuminate;

petiole 0.3–2 cm;

lateral leaflet petiolules 0.5–0.6 mm, terminal leaflet stalk 3–5 mm;

leaflets 3, blades rhombic to obovate, 0.4–1.5 × 0.4–0.8 cm, base cuneate, lateral veins prominent, ± parallel, ascending, margins denticulate distally, apex truncate or retuse, surfaces strigose adaxially.

palmate;

stipules oblanceolate, 0.9–1.5 cm, margins entire, apex acuminate or cuspidate;

petiole 0.8–1 cm;

petiolules 0–1 mm;

leaflets 3, blades obovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 1–2.8 × 0.6–0.8 cm, base cuneate, lateral veins prominent, ± parallel, ascending, margins denticulate, apex acute, truncate, or retuse, mucronate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy.

Inflorescences

axillary, 30–60-flowered, globose or broadly ovoid, 0.8–1.5 × 0.7–1 cm;

involucres absent.

axillary or terminal, 20–80-flowered, usually ovoid-cylindric, sometimes globose, 1.2–2 × 1.3 cm;

involucres absent.

Peduncles

1.5–3.5 cm.

2–5 cm.

Pedicels

reflexed, 0.7–1.2 mm;

bracteoles a fringe of red setae.

reflexed, 0.3–0.6 mm;

bracteoles a fringe of red setae.

Flowers

4.3–5 mm;

calyx campanulate, strongly bilabiate, 1.3–1.5 mm, glabrous, veins 5, tube 0.3–0.6 mm, lobes unequal, adaxial deltate, very short, lateral and abaxial linear-subulate, each tipped with 1 or 2 stiff hairs, orifice open;

corolla yellow becoming brown, 3.5–6 mm, ribbed, banner persistent, obovate, enveloping other petals, boat-shaped, 4.3–5 × 2.8–3.2 mm, apex broad, acute.

7–8 mm;

calyx campanulate, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous, veins 5, tube 0.8–1 mm, lobes unequal, adaxial deltate, 0.6–0.9 mm, 1/2 length of abaxial, abaxial linear, orifice open;

corolla golden yellow becoming brown, 5–6 mm, banner persistent, obovate, boat-shaped, 4–4.5 × 2.4–2.6 mm, apex emarginate.

Legumes

stipitate, oblong, 2–2.5 mm.

stipitate, oblong, 3–3.5 mm, longer than calyx.

Seeds

1 or 2, yellow, ellipsoid, 1–1.5 mm, smooth, lustrous.

1, pale yellow-green, ovoid, 1–1.2 mm, smooth, glossy.

2n

= 14.

= 14, 16.

Trifolium campestre

Trifolium aureum

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Roadsides, fields. Roadsides, railroads, fields, disturbed woodland glades.
Elevation 0–1700 m. (0–5600 ft.) 0–1700 m. (0–5600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; AL; AR; AZ; CA; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; BC; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC; SPM; Europe; w Asia; n Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South America, e Asia (China), s Africa, Pacific Islands (Hawaii, New Zealand), Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; CA; CT; DC; DE; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; SPM; n Europe; c Europe; w Asia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in s South America (Argentina, Chile), e Asia (e China), Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Trifolium filiforme Linnaeus and T. procumbens Linnaeus are rejected names that were used historically for T. campestre (J. E. Dandy 1958; N. J. Turland et al. 1996).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Trifolium agrarium Linnaeus is a rejected name that has been used historically for T. aureum (J. E. Dandy 1958; N. J. Turland et al. 1996).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Trifolium Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Trifolium
Sibling taxa
T. albopurpureum, T. alexandrinum, T. amoenum, T. amphianthum, T. andersonii, T. andinum, T. angustifolium, T. appendiculatum, T. arvense, T. attenuatum, T. aureum, T. barbigerum, T. barnebyi, T. beckwithii, T. bejariense, T. bifidum, T. bolanderi, T. brandegeei, T. breweri, T. buckwestiorum, T. calcaricum, T. carolinianum, T. cernuum, T. ciliolatum, T. columbinum, T. cyathiferum, T. dasyphyllum, T. dedeckerae, T. depauperatum, T. dichotomum, T. douglasii, T. dubium, T. echinatum, T. eriocephalum, T. fragiferum, T. friscanum, T. fucatum, T. glomeratum, T. gracilentum, T. grayi, T. gymnocarpon, T. haydenii, T. hirtum, T. howellii, T. hybridum, T. hydrophilum, T. incarnatum, T. jokerstii, T. kentuckiense, T. kingii, T. lappaceum, T. latifolium, T. leibergii, T. lemmonii, T. longipes, T. lupinaster, T. macilentum, T. macraei, T. macrocephalum, T. medium, T. microcephalum, T. microdon, T. monanthum, T. mucronatum, T. nanum, T. nigrescens, T. obtusiflorum, T. oliganthum, T. ornithopodioides, T. owyheense, T. palmeri, T. parryi, T. pinetorum, T. piorkowskii, T. plumosum, T. polyodon, T. pratense, T. productum, T. reflexum, T. repens, T. resupinatum, T. retusum, T. rollinsii, T. siskiyouense, T. sonorense, T. stoloniferum, T. striatum, T. subterraneum, T. suffocatum, T. thompsonii, T. tomentosum, T. trichocalyx, T. variegatum, T. vesiculosum, T. virginicum, T. willdenovii, T. wormskioldii
T. albopurpureum, T. alexandrinum, T. amoenum, T. amphianthum, T. andersonii, T. andinum, T. angustifolium, T. appendiculatum, T. arvense, T. attenuatum, T. barbigerum, T. barnebyi, T. beckwithii, T. bejariense, T. bifidum, T. bolanderi, T. brandegeei, T. breweri, T. buckwestiorum, T. calcaricum, T. campestre, T. carolinianum, T. cernuum, T. ciliolatum, T. columbinum, T. cyathiferum, T. dasyphyllum, T. dedeckerae, T. depauperatum, T. dichotomum, T. douglasii, T. dubium, T. echinatum, T. eriocephalum, T. fragiferum, T. friscanum, T. fucatum, T. glomeratum, T. gracilentum, T. grayi, T. gymnocarpon, T. haydenii, T. hirtum, T. howellii, T. hybridum, T. hydrophilum, T. incarnatum, T. jokerstii, T. kentuckiense, T. kingii, T. lappaceum, T. latifolium, T. leibergii, T. lemmonii, T. longipes, T. lupinaster, T. macilentum, T. macraei, T. macrocephalum, T. medium, T. microcephalum, T. microdon, T. monanthum, T. mucronatum, T. nanum, T. nigrescens, T. obtusiflorum, T. oliganthum, T. ornithopodioides, T. owyheense, T. palmeri, T. parryi, T. pinetorum, T. piorkowskii, T. plumosum, T. polyodon, T. pratense, T. productum, T. reflexum, T. repens, T. resupinatum, T. retusum, T. rollinsii, T. siskiyouense, T. sonorense, T. stoloniferum, T. striatum, T. subterraneum, T. suffocatum, T. thompsonii, T. tomentosum, T. trichocalyx, T. variegatum, T. vesiculosum, T. virginicum, T. willdenovii, T. wormskioldii
Synonyms Chrysaspis campestris Chrysaspis aurea
Name authority Schreber in G. F. Hoffmann: Deutschl. Fl. 4: 16, plate 253. (1804) Pollich: Hist. Pl. Palat. 2: 344. (1777)
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