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

foothill clover, tree clover

clover, trefoil

Habit Herbs annual, 5–50 cm, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Herbs, annual or perennial, unarmed.
Stems

erect, branched.

prostrate to erect, glabrous or pubescent.

Leaves

palmate;

stipules ovate-lanceolate, 1–1.5 cm, margins entire, sometimes ciliate, apex acuminate;

petiole 1–13 cm;

petiolules 0.5 mm;

leaflets 3, blades elliptic to oblong or obovate, 0.8–3.5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, base cuneate, veins thickened, margins serrate proximally, obscurely denticulate distally, apex usually rounded or retuse, rarely acute, surfaces glabrous.

alternate, odd-pinnate or palmate;

stipules present, persistent, adnate to petiole; petiolate or sessile;

leaflets 3–9, stipels absent, blade margins usually entire or toothed, rarely lobed, surfaces glabrous or pubescent.

Inflorescences

axillary or terminal, 10–30-flowered, ovoid to subglobose, 0.7–2.2 × 0.5–2 cm;

involucres a narrow rim, 0.5 mm, membranous, dentate.

(1–)25–100+-flowered, racemes, umbelliform, spicate, or headlike, axillary or terminal;

bracts present or absent, connate or distinct;

bracteoles present or absent.

Peduncles

2.5–12 cm.

Pedicels

erect becoming reflexed, 0.5–6 mm;

bracteoles linear or cup-shaped, to 1 mm.

Flowers

6–13 mm;

calyx broadly campanulate, 5–11 mm, glabrous, veins 10, tube 1–5 mm, lobes unequal, elliptic to linear, margins hyaline, dentate or pectinate, ciliate, sinuses narrow, orifice open;

corolla white, pink, or purple, 5–13 mm, banner broadly ovate, 6–13 × 4–7 mm, apex rounded, apiculate.

papilionaceous;

calyx actinomorphic or zygomorphic, tubular or campanulate, sometimes inflated in fruit, lobes 5;

corolla white, cream, pink, red, purple, or yellow, glabrous;

stamens 10, diadelphous;

anthers basifixed;

pistil linear to lanceolate, style glabrous or pubescent, stigma terminal.

Fruits

legumes, sessile or stipitate, cylindric or laterally compressed, lanceolate to elliptic, dehiscent, usually longitudinally, rarely transversely or indehiscent, included in marcescent corolla or slightly exserted, papery, membranous, or leathery, glabrous or pubescent.

Legumes

short-stipitate, ovoid, 5–10 mm.

Seeds

1 or 2, brown, mottled, ovoid, 2.5–3 mm, smooth.

1–4[–9], globose, ovoid-oblong, mitten-shaped, or reniform, hilum lateral.

x

= 5, 6, 7, 8.

2n

= 16.

Trifolium ciliolatum

Trifolium

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Oak-pine chaparral, meadows, roadsides.
Elevation 0–1500 m. (0–4900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; WA; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from USDA
North America; Mexico; Central America; South America; Eurasia; Africa; Atlantic Islands [Introduced in West Indies, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Trifolium ciliolatum is relatively widespread in California and is found in scattered sites in Baja California, Oregon, and Washington.

Trifolium ciliatum Nuttall (1848), which pertains here, is a later homonym of T. ciliatum E. D. Clarke (1813).

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

Species ca. 280 (98 in the flora).

In the flora area, Trifolium is superficially similar to Medicago, Melilotus, and Trigonella. Trifolium differs from those genera by persistence of the corolla after anthesis, a legume that is included in or only slightly exserted from the persistent corolla, and distally dilated filaments (H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991; Wei Z. and M. A. Vincent 2010).

Trifolium has three major centers of diversity: the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa; the California region in North America; and the eastern African highlands (M. Zohary and D. Heller 1984). In the New World, diversity is highest in the California region of the United States, the mountainous regions of western North America, and western South America. In North America, a suite of closely related species, centered in the southeastern United States, represents another locus of diversification.

Trifolium consists of subg. Chronosemium (Seringe) Reichenbach and subg. Trifolium; the latter is subdivided into eight sections (N. W. Ellison et al. 2006). Subgenus Chronosemium is represented in the flora area by the Old World species T. aureum, T. campestre, and T. dubium. All native New World species of subg. Trifolium represent a monophyletic lineage, sect. Involucrarium Hooker ex Lojacono. The introduced species of subg. Trifolium represent other sections: sect. Lupinaster (Fabricius) Seringe (T. lupinaster), sect. Trichocephalum W. D. J. Koch (T. subterraneum), sect. Trifoliastrum Gray (T. cernuum, T. glomeratum, T. nigrescens, T. repens, T. retusum, and T. suffocatum), sect. Trifolium (T. alexandrinum, T. angustifolium, T. arvense, T. echinatum, T. hirtum, T. incarnatum, T. lappaceum, T. medium, T. pratense, and T. striatum), and sect. Vesicastrum Seringe (T. fragiferum, T. hybridum, T. ornithopodioides, T. resupinatum, T. tomentosum, and T. vesiculosum). This differs dramatically from the phylogenetic arrangement of M. Zohary and D. Heller (1984), where the genus is subdivided into eight sections, and native New World species are placed in sects. Involucrarium and Lotoidea Crantz (in a narrow sense).

Species of Trifolium have been cultivated for centuries in parts of Europe as forage crops; some species were introduced into the flora area for that purpose. Of these, T. repens appears to have been the earliest introduction, perhaps as early as the mid 1600s (R. N. Mack 2003), and its spread across the continent was very rapid. Other commonly cultivated species include T. hirtum, T. hybridum, T. incarnatum, T. pratense, T. subterraneum, and T. vesiculosum; other species may also be cultivated in North America and may be important regionally (N. L. Taylor 1985; J. M. Gillett and Taylor 2001).

The following species have been mentioned as occurring in the flora area but are excluded as waifs or as only represented by cultivated material: Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieberstein, T. dalmaticum Visiani, T. gemellum Pourret ex Willdenow, T. maritimum Hudson, T. michelianum Savi, T. occidentale Coombe, T. pannonicum Jacquin, T. purpureum Loiseleur-Deslongchamps, T. rubens Linnaeus, T. scabrum Linnaeus, T. spumosum Linnaeus, T. squamosum Linnaeus, and T. stellatum Linnaeus.

Lojaconoa Bobrov 1967, which pertains here, is a later homonym of Lojaconoa Gandoger (Poaceae 1891).

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

Key
1. Involucres present, composed of free or fused bracts, surpassing pedicels; stipule margins usually dentate or lacerate, sometimes entire.
→ 2
2. Herbs perennial.
→ 3
3. Inflorescences 1–9-flowered; involucres incised nearly to base, lobes 2–8; keel petals usually purple-spotted.
T. monanthum
3. Inflorescences (8–)10–50-flowered; involucres incised to 3/4, lobes 10–12; keel petals not spotted.
→ 4
4. Calyx lobes subequal, abaxial rarely longer than tube; involucre: lobes sharply and acutely serrate; leaflet blades obovate to elliptic.
T. wormskioldii
4. Calyx lobes ± equal, abaxial lobe longer than tube; involucre: lobes entire, irregular, bifurcate, or triaristate to lacerate; leaflet blades oblanceolate, obovate, linear, or elliptic.
→ 5
5. Involucral lobes linear-lanceolate, entire; stipule margins entire; roots stout, branched, rhizomes absent.
T. pinetorum
5. Involucre lobes triaristate to lacerate, or irregular to bifurcate; stipule margins entire, toothed, or lacerate; roots tuberous or taproots, rhizomes present or absent.
→ 6
6. Roots tuberous, rhizomes present, elongate, slender; stipule margins entire or slightly lacerate; leaflet blades obovate, oblanceolate, or elliptic.
T. siskiyouense
6. Roots taproots, slender, rhizomes absent or short; stipule margins toothed or lacerate; leaflet blades linear, elliptic, or obovate.
T. mucronatum
2. Herbs annual or biennial.
→ 7
7. Calyx and/or banner inflated in fruit.
→ 8
8. Banner proximally inflated in fruit, distally twisted.
→ 9
9. Calyx lobes: apex unbranched, setaceous; calyx longer than corolla.
T. barbigerum
9. Calyx lobes: apex of at least some branched, flattened or setaceous; calyx equaling or shorter than corolla.
→ 10
10. Abaxial and lateral calyx lobes conspicuously 2- or 3-fid, segments glabrous, sometimes flattened.
T. cyathiferum
10. Calyx lobes unbranched or apex inconspicuously 3-fid, segments plumose, not flattened.
→ 11
11. Corollas usually lavender or purple, sometimes purple with white tips; leaves and stems usually pubescent; seeds 1.6–2 mm.
T. grayi
11. Corollas yellow; leaves and stems glabrous; seeds 3.1–3.4 mm.
T. jokerstii
8. Banner inflated entire length in fruit, not distally twisted.
→ 12
12. Flowers 10–27 mm; leaflet blades oblanceolate, obovate, orbiculate, or rhombic-obovate; involucral lobe apex acuminate, sometimes 2- or 3-fid or 3–5-fid.
→ 13
13. Calyx tube 1.5–2.5 mm, abaxial lobe apex undivided or 2- or 3-fid; seed coat reticulate.
T. fucatum
13. Calyx tube 2.5–4 mm, abaxial lobe apex 3–5-fid; seed coat smooth.
T. piorkowskii
12. Flowers 3–11 mm; leaflet blades lanceolate, linear, obovate, or oblanceo­late; involucral lobe apex rounded to truncate, not split.
→ 14
14. Involucres 3–13 mm, incised 1/2 their length; inflorescences 0.5–1 cm diam.; banners 4–7 mm; herbs 1–30 cm; stems erect or decumbent.
T. depauperatum
14. Involucres 3–4 mm, lobes incised less than 1/2 their length; inflorescences 1–1.8 × 1.3–1.5 cm; banners 7–9 mm; herbs 15–55 cm; stems erect.
T. hydrophilum
7. Neither calyx nor banner inflated in fruit.
→ 15
15. Involucres flattened or cup- or bowl-shaped, when compressed laterally, nearly completely hiding calyces.
→ 16
16. Involucral lobes entire or slightly toothed proximally; involucres conspic­uously villous; corollas ± equal to calyces.
T. microcephalum
16. Involucral lobes conspicuously toothed; involucres glabrous or sparsely hairy; corollas longer than calyces.
→ 17
17. Involucres flattened or shallowly bowl-shaped; inflorescences 0.5–0.8 cm; calyx lobes aristate, margins not membranous; early inflorescences hidden in stipules, subsessile, with 2–5 cleistogamous flowers.
T. buckwestiorum
17. Involucres cup-shaped; inflorescences 0.8–1.7 cm; calyx lobes not or minutely aristate, margins membranous; early inflorescences not hidden, without cleistogamous flowers.
T. microdon
15. Involucres rotate, bracts sometimes separate, or involucres flattened to bowl- or vase-shaped, when compressed laterally, not hiding flowers except proximally.
→ 18
18. Calyx tubes slit between adaxial lobes, lobes shorter than or equal to tube, 3-fid or shouldered below subulate apex (usually entire in T. obtusiflorum); leaflet blades linear, oblong, lanceolate, oblanceolate, elliptic, rhombic, or obovate.
→ 19
19. Flowers 11–16 mm; involucres 1–2 mm, incised 4/5–9/10 their length, lobes not lacerate; inflorescences 0.3–0.8 cm diam., 3–15-flowered.
T. oliganthum
19. Flowers 12–20 mm; involucres 3–9 mm, incised 1/4–1/3 their length, lobes deeply lacerate; inflorescences 1–3 cm diam., 10–50-flowered.
→ 20
20. Peduncles and calyces glabrous; calyx lobes usually 3-fid or shouldered; leaflet margins serrate.
T. willdenovii
20. Peduncles and calyces glandular; calyx lobes usually entire, rarely 3-fid or shouldered; leaflet margins coarsely spinulose-serrate.
T. obtusiflorum
18. Calyx tubes not slit between adaxial lobes, lobes longer than tube, usually entire and without shoulders, rarely 3-fid or laciniate; leaflet blades obo­vate to oblanceolate, or elliptic.
→ 21
21. Calyces usually densely pubescent; involucres flattened or vase-shaped, 1–3 mm, incised 2/3–3/4 their length; seeds 3–6(–9).
T. trichocalyx
21. Calyces glabrous; involucres flattened or bowl-shaped, 4–16 mm, incised 1/2 their length; seeds 1 or 2.
→ 22
22. Calyx lobes 3-fid or laciniate; leaflet blades broadly elliptic to broadly obovate, apex rounded or truncate, often retuse; stems decumbent or ascending; Monterey Peninsula, California.
T. polyodon
22. Calyx lobes entire (rarely with a small, lateral tooth); leaflet blades elliptic, obovate, or oblanceolate, apex acute or retuse; stems usually erect or ascending, rarely decumbent; w North America.
→ 23
23. Banner petals 3.2–9.7 mm, included or exserted 0.1–5.7 mm beyond tips of calyx lobes, keel petals not beaked; mature seeds 1.1–1.6 mm; Alaska and British Columbia south to California, east to Arizona and Montana.
T. variegatum
23. Banner petals 6.3–15.8 mm, exserted 1.5–8.4 mm beyond tips of calyx lobes, keel petals beaked or not; mature seeds 1.9–2.8 mm; California, s Oregon.
T. appendiculatum
1. Involucres absent or vestigial, not exceeding pedicels, or if better developed, then formed of bracteoles, or with subtending leaves and stipules forming involucrelike structures; stipule margins usually entire, lobed, or toothed, sometimes serrate or denticulate.
→ 24
24. Calyces and/or corollas inflated in fruit; legumes usually shorter than calyces.
→ 25
25. Calyces not bilabiate in fruit, veins 5 or 20–36; involucres absent or vestigial.
→ 26
26. Calyces inflated in fruit, corollas not inflated in fruit; tubes of fruiting calyces with interconnecting veins; involucres absent; bracteoles present, nearly equaling calyces; herbs 15–70 cm.
T. vesiculosum
26. Calyces not inflated in fruit, corollas inflated in fruit; tubes of fruiting calyces without interconnecting veins; involucres vestigial, reduced to narrow ring; bracteoles absent; herbs 1–30 cm.
T. depauperatum
25. Calyces markedly bilabiate in fruit, veins 5–10; involucres of bracteoles or a nar­row rim.
→ 27
27. Herbs perennial; stems prostrate or creeping; flowers not resupinate; involucres of bracteoles cup-shaped, 3–6 mm.
T. fragiferum
27. Herbs annual; stems prostrate, procumbent, ascending, or erect; flowers resupinate; involucres a narrow rim, 0.2 mm.
→ 28
28. Inflorescences forming stellate-spreading clusters of calyces in fruit; calyces short-hairy or glabrescent in fruit, orifices open, lobes erect or divergent.
T. resupinatum
28. Inflorescences not forming stellate-spreading clusters in fruit; calyces densely white-woolly, orifices abruptly constricted in fruit, adaxial lobes spreading or curved.
T. tomentosum
24. Calyces and corollas not inflated in fruit; legumes longer than or equal to calyces.
→ 29
29. Calyx lobes: abaxial lobes longer, adaxial very short; banner spatulate, boat-shaped, or obovate; legumes stipitate, seeds 1 or 2.
→ 30
30. Terminal leaflets sessile; stipules 0.9–1.5 cm; banners: apex emarginate.
T. aureum
30. Terminal leaflets obviously stalked; stipules 0.3–0.8 cm; banners: apex rounded or broadly acute.
→ 31
31. Stipules 0.3–0.5 cm; flowers 2.8–3.5 mm; leaflet blades obovate to elliptic-lanceolate; corollas not or slightly ribbed.
T. dubium
31. Stipules 0.5–0.8 cm; flowers 4.3–5 mm; leaflet blades rhombic to obovate; corollas obviously ribbed.
T. campestre
29. Calyx lobes: abaxial ± equaling adaxial, or if lobes markedly unequal, then banner not spatulate or boat-shaped; legumes sessile or stipitate, seeds 1–9.
→ 32
32. Inflorescences with 2–7 fertile flowers with corollas and 0–80 sterile flowers without corollas; inflorescences pedunculate, pushing into substrate in fruit, subterranean flowers chasmogamous.
T. subterraneum
32. Inflorescences with 1–100+ fertile flowers with corollas; inflorescences not pushing into substrate in fruit, if so (T. amphianthum only), subterranean inflorescences sessile and subterranean flowers cleistogamous.
→ 33
33. Pedicels 0–1 mm; bracteoles usually absent (present in T. arvense); calyx orifices thickened or closed by callosity or ring of hairs; legumes leathery distally, transversely dehiscent; seeds 1 or 2.
→ 34
34. Calyx veins 20.
→ 35
35. Calyces pilose; peduncles 0 cm; inflorescences appearing involucrate (involucrelike structures formed by enlarging stipules), disarticulating in fruit.
T. hirtum
35. Calyces glabrous; peduncles 0.1–0.7 cm; inflorescences not involucrate, burlike, not disarticulating in fruit.
T. lappaceum
34. Calyx veins 10–20 or not distinguishable.
→ 36
36. Flowers 5–8 mm.
→ 37
37. Leaflet blades broadly ovate or obovate to oblong, lengths 1–1.5(–2) times widths; calyx 3–4 mm.
T. striatum
37. Leaflet blades elliptic, oblong, linear-oblong, linear-lanceolate, or obovate, lengths usually (2.5–)3–7 times widths; calyx 5–8 mm.
T. arvense
36. Flowers 9–18 mm.
→ 38
38. Herbs perennial.
→ 39
39. Peduncles ± 0 mm, hidden by stipules of distal leaves; calyx tubes hairy; stipules broadly triangular, apex mucronate or setaceous.
T. pratense
39. Peduncles 1–3 cm, not hidden by subtending stipules; calyx tubes glabrous; stipules lanceolate-linear, apex subulate.
T. medium
38. Herbs usually annual, rarely biennial.
→ 40
40. Leaflet blades broadly ovate or obovate to oblong, lengths 1–1.5(–2) times widths; corollas usually scarlet to red, rarely pink or white, banner oblong-elliptic, apex acute.
T. incarnatum
40. Leaflet blades elliptic, oblong, linear-oblong, linear-lanceolate, or obovate, lengths usually (2.5–)3–7 times widths; corollas usually whitish, pale pink, or purple, banner narrowly-spatulate, oblong-spatulate, or ovate-elliptic, apex acute, obtuse, or notched.
→ 41
41. Corollas shorter than or equaling calyx, usually pale pink or purple, rarely white; inflorescences 3–8 cm; calyx 8–13 mm, orifices closed by bilabiate callosities.
T. angustifolium
41. Corollas longer than calyx, whitish; inflorescences 1–2.5 cm; calyx 6–8 mm, orifices open or closed by bilabiate callosities.
→ 42
42. Calyx orifices closed by bilabiate callosities, lobes unequal, triangular-elliptic, stellate-spreading, tubes glabrescent; corollas 8–10 mm; banner apex acute; seeds 1.2–1.4 mm.
T. echinatum
42. Calyx orifices open, hairy, lobes equal or abaxial 2 slightly longer, narrowly triangular, erect to slightly spreading, tubes appressed-hairy; corollas 13–16 mm; banner apex obtuse; seeds 2–2.2 mm.
T. alexandrinum
33. Pedicels (0–)1–8(–12) mm; bracteoles usually present; calyx orifices open; legumes not leathery distally, longitudinally dehiscent; seeds 1–9.
→ 43
43. Calyces glabrous.
→ 44
44. Herbs perennial; stems creeping, rooting at nodes; peduncles erect, from prostrate stems; pedicels strongly reflexed in fruit; corollas equaling or 2 times calyces.
T. repens
44. Herbs annual or perennial; stems usually erect or ascending, rarely prostrate, not rooting at nodes; peduncles erect or not, from prostrate or upright stems; pedicels reflexed or not; corollas shorter to longer than calyces.
→ 45
45. Corollas 2+ times calyces.
→ 46
46. Pedicels erect or slightly reflexed, sometimes only those of proximal flow­ers reflexed.
→ 47
47. Calyx lobes curved or twisted.
→ 48
48. Herbs annual; stems procumbent, decumbent, or ascending; inflo­rescences 0.8–1 cm diam.; peduncles 0–0.1 cm.
T. glomeratum
48. Herbs perennial; stems erect; inflorescences 2–3.5 cm diam.; peduncles 3–12 cm.
T. douglasii
47. Calyx lobes straight.
→ 49
49. Herbs 4–10 cm; stems mat-forming, cespitose; flowers 1–4; brac­teoles membranous, connate, forming cuplike involucres.
T. nanum
49. Herbs 10–20 cm; stems erect or ascending, loosely cespitose or rhizomatous; flowers 15–20; bracteoles purplish, scarious, some­times connate, forming involucres.
T. parryi
46. Pedicels strongly reflexed.
→ 50
50. Inflorescences: rachises not prolonged beyond flowers, without sterile flowers.
T. hybridum
50. Inflorescences: rachises prolonged beyond (fertile) flowers, often bear­ing a cluster of sterile flower buds distally.
→ 51
51. Stems 30–100 cm, fistulose; leaflet blades 2.3–5 cm wide.
T. howellii
51. Stems 5–50 cm, not fistulose; leaflet blades 0.1–2 cm wide.
→ 52
52. Calyx veins 5.
→ 53
53. Peduncles thick, straight; banners straight, obovate to broadly elliptic.
T. beckwithii
53. Peduncles slender, bent distally just below flowers; ban­ners curved, oblanceolate.
T. bolanderi
52. Calyx veins 10 (5 sometimes faint).
→ 54
54. Stems ± erect, loosely cespitose; leaves basal and cauline.
→ 55
55. Leaflet blades lanceolate or elliptic; calyces 3–3.5 mm.
T. productum
55. Leaflet blades lanceolate to linear; calyces 6–8.5 mm.
T. dedeckerae
54. Stems ascending, cespitose; leaves mostly basal.
→ 56
56. Inflorescences globose or subglobose; peduncles straight proximal to flowers; corollas salmon, buff-pink, or pink, with white or cream tips; calyx lobes equaling tubes.
T. haydenii
56. Inflorescences hemispheric; peduncles curved distally, just below flowers, inflorescences appearing turned to one side; corollas purple, often white-tipped; calyx lobes shorter than tubes.
T. rollinsii
45. Corollas less than 2 times calyces.
→ 57
57. Pedicels straight or slightly reflexed in fruit.
→ 58
58. Inflorescences loose, flowers 1–5, not overtopped by leafy stipules; calyx lobes straight in fruit.
T. ornithopodioides
58. Inflorescences dense, flowers 10–20, overtopped by broad, membranous stipules; calyx lobes curved in fruit.
T. suffocatum
57. Pedicels strongly reflexed or recurved in fruit.
→ 59
59. Calyx lobes recurved in fruit.
→ 60
60. Peduncles equaling or shorter than subtending leaves; stipule apex stramineous; corollas shorter than calyces.
T. retusum
60. Peduncles longer than subtending leaves; stipule apex dark purple or reddish; corollas longer than calyces.
T. nigrescens
59. Calyx lobes not recurved (except T. nigrescens) in fruit.
→ 61
61. Calyx lobe margins hyaline, dentate or pectinate, markedly ciliate.
T. ciliolatum
61. Calyx lobe margins green, purple, or pink, not dentate or pectinate, not ciliate.
→ 62
62. Leaflet blades narrowly obcordate, obovate, oblanceolate, or linear, apex, at least some, retuse to deeply 2-fid.
T. bifidum
62. Leaflet blades narrowly elliptic, lanceolate, obovate, obcordate, ovate, oblong, rhombic, or broadly elliptic, apex not 2-fid, sometimes shallowly retuse.
→ 63
63. Leaflet blades narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, apex acute; calyx lobe margins membranous.
T. palmeri
63. Leaflet blades obovate to obcordate or ovate, oblong, or rhombic, apex broadly rounded, broadly acute, truncate, emarginate, or retuse; calyx lobe margins not membranous.
→ 64
64. Peduncles 0.6–1.5 cm, distal ones shorter; flowers 4–5.5 mm; banners: apex deeply emarginate.
T. cernuum
64. Peduncles 1–9 cm; flowers 5–15 mm; banners: apex rounded, retuse, apiculate, erose-denticulate, or acute.
→ 65
65. Calyx lobes (at least most) equaling to less than 2 times tube; stipule apex subulate, sharply recurved, dark purple or reddish.
T. nigrescens
65. Calyx lobes 2 times tube; stipule apex acute or acuminate, usually erect, green.
→ 66
66. Inflorescences 0.5–2 cm diam.; calyx lobes unequal, long-triangular; stipules ovate-lanceolate, membranous; corollas 5–8 mm; bracteoles cuplike.
T. gracilentum
66. Inflorescences 2–4 cm diam.; calyx lobes equal, narrowly triangular to subulate; stipules broadly ovate, foliaceous; corollas 9–14 mm; bracteoles broad-obovate, truncate to 2-fid.
T. reflexum
43. Calyces entirely or partly pubescent.
→ 67
67. Inflorescences 4–30(–50)-flowered.
→ 68
68. Pedicels erect or only those of proximal flowers reflexed in fruit.
→ 69
69. Peduncles ± 0 cm, inflorescences largely hidden by broad, membranous stipules; herbs 3–10 cm; pedicels 0.1 mm.
T. suffocatum
69. Peduncles (0–)1–17 cm, usually not hidden by stipules (partially hidden in T. macraei); herbs 0.8–30 cm; pedicels (0–)0.5–4 mm.
→ 70
70. Leaflets 3 or 5(–9); stipule margins entire, irregularly dentate, or serrate.
→ 71
71. Stipule margins finely and sharply serrate; stems erect, unbranched or branched distally; Alaska.
T. lupinaster
71. Stipule margins entire or irregularly dentate; stems cespitose, numer­ous, short, branched from woody crown; Oregon to Montana, south­ward to California and New Mexico.
T. gymnocarpon
70. Leaflets 3; stipule margins entire.
→ 72
72. Inflorescences usually in pairs, partially hidden by terminal leaves and stipules; peduncles 0–0.2 cm; pedicels 0 mm.
T. macraei
72. Inflorescences single, not hidden by terminal leaves and stipules; peduncles 1–17 cm; pedicels 0.5–3.5 mm.
→ 73
73. Herbs canescent; leaflet blades oblanceolate to obovate, often folded, surfaces densely silvery-hairy; bracteoles absent; banners 8–10 mm, oblong, apex acute.
T. friscanum
73. Herbs glabrous or pubescent, not canescent; leaflet blades oblong-elliptic, oblanceolate, or obovate, sometimes folded, surfaces gla­brous or hairy; bracteoles linear-lanceolate; banners 11–15 mm, broadly elliptic-ovate, apex rounded, apiculate.
T. dasyphyllum
68. Pedicels curved or reflexed in fruit.
→ 74
74. Peduncles ± geniculate distally.
→ 75
75. Calyx tubular, lobes subequal, subulate.
T. breweri
75. Calyx campanulate, bilabiate, lobes markedly unequal, adaxial longer than abaxial, foliaceous.
→ 76
76. Calyx lobes, except abaxial, obovate, veins reticulate, surfaces gla­brous, sparsely pilose marginally.
T. bejariense
76. Calyx lobes broadly triangular, veins slightly branched, surfaces villous.
T. carolinianum
74. Peduncles straight.
→ 77
77. Stems creeping, rooting at nodes; inflorescences 2 kinds, one aerial, long-pedunculate, flowers chasmogamous, other subterranean, flowers cleistogamous.
T. amphianthum
77. Stems not creeping, not rooting at nodes; inflorescences aerial, flowers chasmogamous.
→ 78
78. Herbs annual or biennial; stems not cespitose.
→ 79
79. Calyx lobe margins dentate or pectinate, ciliate.
T. ciliolatum
79. Calyx lobe margins entire.
→ 80
80. Leaflet blades narrowly obcordate, obovate, oblanceolate, or linear, at least some with apex retuse to deeply 2-fid; flowers 6–8 mm; banners elliptic to oblong, apex rounded, apiculate.
T. bifidum
80. Leaflet blades ovate, obovate, oblong, rhombic, or orbiculate, apex acute, rounded, emarginate, or obcordate; flowers 9–15 mm; banners obovate-oblong or ovate-oblong, apex usually rounded or retuse, sometimes erose-denticulate.
→ 81
81. Stems erect or ascending; distalmost petioles 0.3–3.5 cm; calyx lobes 3–7 mm.
T. reflexum
81. Stems decumbent; distalmost petioles 6–8 cm; calyx lobes 2–3.7 mm.
T. kentuckiense
78. Herbs perennial; stems mostly cespitose.
→ 82
82. Inflorescence rachises not surpassing distalmost flowers.
→ 83
83. Herbs pubescent, 5–30 cm; stems erect or ascending; stipules 1.8–2 cm; leaflet blades 1.5–6 cm, margins entire; flowers 15–22 mm; corollas red-purple.
T. attenuatum
83. Herbs mostly glabrous, 3–5 cm; stems densely matted; stipules 0.5–1 cm; leaflet blades 0.3–1.6 cm, margins sharply antrorsely serrate; flowers 8–13 mm; corollas creamy white.
T. barnebyi
82. Inflorescence rachises surpassing distalmost flowers.
→ 84
84. Calyx 7–10 mm, lobes narrowly triangular, acuminate, length less than 2 times tube; corollas 15–18 mm; leaflet margins entire.
T. brandegeei
84. Calyx 3.3–15 mm, lobes narrowly triangular, linear, or subulate, length 2+ times tube; corollas 5.3–20 mm; leaflet margins entire, serrate, or serrulate.
→ 85
85. Stems prostrate; stipule margins entire or finely serrulate; leaflet blades obovate to obcordate, largest to 1.6 × 1.2 cm; bracteoles linear-triangular, 0.5 mm; flowers 5.7–6.7 mm; banners obovate, apex broadly rounded or broadly acute.
T. sonorense
85. Stems ascending; stipule margins entire proximally, 1–3-toothed distally; leaflet blades obovate or elliptic, largest to 4.2 × 2.5 cm; bracteoles scalelike, to 0.3 mm; flowers 13–17 mm; banners elliptic, apex tapered, sometimes retuse.
T. latifolium
67. Inflorescences (5–)10–50(–80)-flowered.
→ 86
86. Petioles 0.5–0.7 cm; stipules adnate to petioles, sheathing; leaflets (3–)5(–9).
T. lupinaster
86. Petioles (0.3–)1–20(–25) cm; stipules not adnate to petioles, not sheathing; leaf-lets 3 or 5–9.
→ 87
87. Leaflets 5–9.
→ 88
88. Inflorescences 2.5–8 × 3–7 cm; calyx lobes 2–4 times tube.
→ 89
89. Leaflets 5–7, blades linear, linear-lanceolate, or linear-elliptic, 2–7 cm; inflorescences 3–5 × 3–4 cm; calyx lobes slightly pilose; corollas rose-pink to purple.
T. thompsonii
89. Leaflets (5–)7–9, blades broadly to narrowly obovate, 1–2.7 cm; inflo­rescences 2.5–8 × 3–7 cm; calyx lobes plumose; corolla white, creamy white, or pinkish, keel petals deep pink.
T. macrocephalum
88. Inflorescences 1–3 × 1–3 cm; calyx lobes shorter than or to 1.5 times tube.
→ 90
90. Pedicels 0 mm; calyces 9–11 mm; leaflet margins entire; seeds 1.6–2 mm.
T. andersonii
90. Pedicels 1–4 mm; calyces 3–7.5 mm; leaflet margins dentate; seeds 2.5–4.5 mm.
→ 91
91. Flowers 6–15, 7.5–13 mm; peduncles 1–6.5 cm, ± surpassing leaves, not bent distally; inflorescences 1–2 cm.
T. gymnocarpon
91. Flowers 15–30, 11–13 mm; peduncles 5–15 cm, surpassing leaves, sharply bent distally, just below flowers; inflorescences 2–3 cm.
T. lemmonii
87. Leaflets 3.
→ 92
92. Pedicels absent or not all reflexed in fruit.
→ 93
93. Leaflet blade lengths 3+ times widths.
→ 94
94. Bracteoles conspicuous, 2–6 mm, proximal ones sometimes connate, forming involucre; banners broadly elliptic-ovate, folded distally, apex rounded, api­culate; ovaries pubescent distally.
T. dasyphyllum
94. Bracteoles inconspicuous, 0–0.5 mm, not forming involucre; banners oblong or ovate to oblanceolate, apex usually acute or obtuse, rarely rounded or truncate; ovaries glabrous or pubescent distally.
→ 95
95. Calyx veins 15–20; ovaries glabrous or pubescent distally.
→ 96
96. Leaflet blades often folded, falcate; inflorescences spicate, ovoid to cylindric; calyx lobes subulate, straight.
T. plumosum
96. Leaflet blades flat, not falcate; inflorescences umbellate, globose to ovoid; calyx lobes triangular or subulate, lateral and adaxial tortuous, curved downwards and inwards around corollas, abaxial straight.
T. douglasii
95. Calyx veins 5–10; ovaries pubescent distally.
→ 97
97. Peduncles 0.1–1 cm; inflorescences usually formed of 2 sessile heads, subtended by distal stipules and leaves, forming involucrelike structure, or involucre absent; stipules oblanceolate, margins entire; calyx rough-hairy or glabrous, lobes subequal.
T. andinum
97. Peduncles 1–30 cm; inflorescences: distal stipules not forming involucrelike structure; stipules ovate to lanceolate, margins usually entire, sometimes slightly serrate proximally; calyx hairy or glabrous, lobes unequal.
T. longipes
93. Leaflet blade lengths to 2 times widths.
→ 98
98. Herbs perennial; stems erect or spreading, cespitose, little branched distally.
→ 99
99. Stipules fused at base, broadly obovate, margins slightly lobed; leaflets slightly overlapping, blades ovate, obovate, or orbiculate, apex emarginate.
T. owyheense
99. Stipules distinct at base, ovate to lanceolate, margins usually entire, sometimes slightly serrate proximally; leaflets not overlapping, blades linear, lanceolate to elliptic, or oblong, cauline sometimes ovate, apex acute.
T. longipes
98. Herbs annual; stems erect, ascending, or prostrate, not cespitose, branched throughout or unbranched.
→ 100
100. Peduncles 0–0.2 cm; inflorescences usually paired, sometimes one head slightly stalked, partially hidden by terminal leaves and stipules.
T. macraei
100. Peduncles 0.5–15 cm; inflorescences single, not hidden by terminal leaves or stipules.
→ 101
101. Calyces campanulate, veins 10 (additional faint veins sometimes present), sinuses rounded, lobes divergent; corollas shorter than calyces.
T. albopurpureum
101. Calyces tubular, veins 20–30, sinuses acute, lobes not divergent, appearing rigidly erect; corollas shorter or longer than calyces.
→ 102
102. Corollas shorter than calyces or absent.
T. columbinum
102. Corollas longer than calyces.
→ 103
103. Inflorescences bluntly conic, ellipsoid, globose, or sub­globose, 1.5–3 × 1.5–2.5 cm; leaflet blades broadly obovate or elliptic, 1.7–3.3 × 1.1–2 cm; corollas 12–16 mm; calyces 9–12 mm.
T. amoenum
103. Inflorescences ovoid-ellipsoid, 1.1–2.2 × 1–1.5 cm; leaf­let blades obovate or oblanceolate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.2–1.1 cm; corollas 7–12 mm; calyces 4–8 mm.
T. dichotomum
92. Pedicels reflexed in fruit.
→ 104
104. Herbs perennial; stems creeping, rooting at nodes.
→ 105
105. Inflorescences of 2 kinds: one terminal, aerial, long-pedunculate, flowers chas­mogamous, the other basal, subterranean, flowers cleistogamous.
T. amphianthum
105. Inflorescences all aerial, flowers chasmogamous.
→ 106
106. Peduncles 2–7 cm, single or paired at tips of erect stems, subtended by pair of opposite or subopposite, short-petiolate leaves; inflorescences 2–3.5 × 2–3.5 cm; flowers 15–30; leaflet blades broadly ovate or obcordate.
T. stoloniferum
106. Peduncles 10–12 cm, single, arising from stolons; inflorescences 1.8–2.2 × 1.8–2.2 cm; flowers 25–50; leaflet blades obovate, rhombic, or elliptic.
T. calcaricum
104. Herbs annual, biennial, or perennial; stems not creeping, not rooting at nodes.
→ 107
107. Leaflet lengths 3+ times widths.
→ 108
108. Herbs annual; leaflet blades narrowly obcordate, obovate, oblanceolate, or linear, apex rounded or truncate, shallowly to deeply retuse or deeply 2-fid.
T. bifidum
108. Herbs perennial; leaflet blades elliptic, linear-elliptic, lanceolate, oblong, ovate, or linear, apex not deeply retuse to 2-fid.
→ 109
109. Peduncles bent or curved proximal to flowers, inflorescences inverted or horizontal.
→ 110
110. Ovaries pubescent distally; calyx curved in fruit, lobes unequal, lengths 2–3 times tube, plumose.
T. eriocephalum
110. Ovaries glabrous; calyx straight, lobes equal, lengths 1–1.5 times tube, sparsely pubescent or glabrate.
T. kingii
109. Peduncles straight, inflorescences erect.
→ 111
111. Banners ovate to oblanceolate, apex tapering, acuminate or beaked.
T. longipes
111. Banners broadly oblong-elliptic or obovate-oblong, apex rounded, acute, or retuse, sometimes mucronate or apiculate.
→ 112
112. Leaflet blade apex narrowly acute or acuminate, margins entire; proximal bracteoles forming involucres; flowers 10–20; calyces 8–15 mm; w United States.
T. attenuatum
112. Leaflet blade apex truncate to acute, margins entire or serrulate; bracteoles not forming involucres; flowers 20–40; calyces 4–7 mm; e United States.
T. virginicum
107. Leaflet lengths usually to 2 times widths.
→ 113
113. Herbs annual or biennial.
→ 114
114. Calyces markedly bilabiate, lobes markedly unequal (adaxial longer than abaxial), oblong-ovate or broadly triangular, veins reticulate or branched.
→ 115
115. Calyx lobes, except abaxial, obovate, pubescent along margins, veins reticulate.
T. bejariense
115. Calyx lobes broadly triangular, lanceolate, or linear, uniformly villous, veins slightly branched.
T. carolinianum
114. Calyces not markedly bilabiate, lobes ± equal, triangular, lanceolate or linear, or subulate, veins unbranched.
→ 116
116. Inflorescence rachises not surpassing flowers; stipule apex recurved, dark purple or reddish; calyx lobes recurved in fruit.
T. nigrescens
116. Inflorescence rachises sometimes surpassing flowers; stipule apex straight, green; calyx lobes straight in fruit.
→ 117
117. Calyx lobes unequal, margins dentate or pectinate, strongly ciliate, sinuses narrow; inflorescences 0.5–2 cm diam.; seeds 2.5–3 mm.
T. ciliolatum
117. Calyx lobes equal, margins entire, sinuses broad; inflorescences 2–4 cm diam.; seeds 1.2–1.5 mm.
T. reflexum
113. Herbs perennial.
→ 118
118. Herbs canescent; margins of stipules and leaflets coarsely spinulose-dentate.
T. leibergii
118. Herbs glabrous or pubescent, not canescent; margins of stipules and leaves entire or toothed, not spinulose.
→ 119
119. Inflorescence rachises not surpassing flowers; banners ovate-oblong, apex rounded-denticulate.
T. hybridum
119. Inflorescence rachises sometimes surpassing flowers; banners elliptic, obovate, ovate-oblong, or lanceolate-ovate, apex not denticulate.
→ 120
120. Peduncles geniculate or bent proximal to flowers, inflorescences appearing inverted.
→ 121
121. Stipule apex long-acuminate, margins entire; corollas 6–10 mm; banners equaling wing and keel petals.
T. breweri
121. Stipules apex acuminate or acute, margins entire proximally, 1–3-toothed distally; corollas 12–15 mm; banners longer than wing and keel petals.
T. latifolium
120. Peduncles straight, inflorescences erect.
→ 122
122. Herbs pubescent; stems prostrate; leaflet blades obovate to obcor­date, 0.9–1.6 cm; inflorescences 0.8–1.6 × 0.9–1.6 cm.
T. sonorense
122. Herbs glabrous; stems erect, ascending, or decumbent; leaflet blades ovate, rhombic, elliptic, or lanceolate, 0.5–8 cm; inflorescences 1.5–4 × 1.4–3.5 cm.
→ 123
123. Inflorescences longer than wide, rachis internodes between floral whorls elongated; leaflet blades of basal leaves thin, margins setose to dentate.
T. macilentum
123. Inflorescences ± as long as wide, rachis internodes not espe­cially elongated; leaflet blades of basal leaves thick, margins sometimes shortly setose.
T. kingii
Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11. Authors: Michael A. Vincent, John M. Gillett†.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Trifolium Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae
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. campestre, T. carolinianum, T. cernuum, 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
Subordinate 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. 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 T. ciliatum var. discolor Amoria, Chrysaspis, Lupinaster
Name authority Bentham: Pl. Hartw., 304. (1849) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 764. (1753): Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 337. (1754)
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