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

least hop clover, lesser hop clover, lesser hop trefoil, little hop clover, shamrock, small hop-clover, suckling clover

Habit Herbs annual, 5–40 cm, slightly villous or glabrous. Herbs annual, 20–40 cm, glabrous or sparsely hairy.
Stems

erect to ascending, branched.

erect to prostrate, branched from base.

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.

pinnate;

stipules ovate, 0.3–0.5 cm, margins entire, apex acute;

petiole to 1.5 cm;

lateral leaflet petiolules to 0.5 mm, terminal leaflet stalk 1–1.5 mm;

leaflets 3, blades obovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 1–2 × 0.5–1.5 cm, base cuneate, lateral veins prominent, ± parallel, ascending, margins dentate distally, apex rounded or retuse, 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, 5–20-flowered, ovoid or globose, 0.5–0.9 × 0.6 cm;

involucres absent.

Peduncles

1.5–3.5 cm.

1–1.5 cm.

Pedicels

reflexed, 0.7–1.2 mm;

bracteoles a fringe of red setae.

reflexed, 0.2–0.5 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.

2.8–3.5 mm;

calyx campanulate, 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, veins 5, tube 0.8–1 mm, lobes unequal, longer than tube, adaxial 2 shorter, orifice open;

corolla pale yellow becoming brown, 2.6–3.2 mm, not or slightly ribbed, banner persistent, spatulate, 2.6–3.2 × 2 mm, apex rounded to broadly acute.

Legumes

stipitate, oblong, 2–2.5 mm.

stipitate, ellipsoid, 1.5–2 mm, short beaked.

Seeds

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

1, yellow or pale brown, ellipsoid, 0.9–1 mm, smooth, glossy.

2n

= 14.

= 16, 28, 32.

Trifolium campestre

Trifolium dubium

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering May–Oct.
Habitat Roadsides, fields. Disturbed ground, fields.
Elevation 0–1700 m. (0–5600 ft.) 0–2300 m. (0–7500 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; 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; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; BC; NB; NS; ON; PE; QC; SPM; c Europe; s Europe; w Asia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in s South America, e Asia (e China), n, s Africa, Pacific Islands (Hawaii, 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 dubium is often confused with Medicago lupulina Linnaeus; the latter may be distinguished by its toothed stipules, deciduous corollas, and shiny, black fruits. Little hop clover may be the co-called shamrock of Irish folklore (E. C. Nelson 1991; P. S. Wyse Jackson 2014); other candidates include other species of Trifolium or species of Medicago or Oxalis.

(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. aureum, 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. 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 dubia, T. minus
Name authority Schreber in G. F. Hoffmann: Deutschl. Fl. 4: 16, plate 253. (1804) Sibthorp: Fl. Oxon., 231. (1794)
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