Trifolium nanum |
Trifolium dichotomum |
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dwarf clover |
branch clover, branch Indian clover, Macrae's clover |
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Habit | Herbs perennial, 4–10 cm, glabrous. | Herbs annual, 15–30 cm, canescent. |
Stems | cespitose, matted, acaulescent. |
erect, branched from base and distally, or unbranched. |
Leaves | palmate; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 1–2 cm, margins entire, apex acuminate, sometimes forked; petiole 0.3–2.5 cm; petiolules to 0.2 mm; leaflets 3, blades oblanceolate or obovate, 0.3–1.2 × 0.1–0.5 cm, base cuneate, veins ± thickened, margins toothed, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces glabrous. |
palmate; stipules ovate or elliptic, 0.3–1 cm, margins entire, ciliate, apex acuminate; petiole 0.5–6.5 cm; petiolules 0.5–0.7 mm; leaflets 3, blades obovate or oblanceolate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.2–1.1 cm, base cuneate, veins obscure or slightly thickened, margins dentate, apex rounded or emarginate, surfaces pilose or glabrescent. |
Inflorescences | terminal or axillary, 1–4-flowered, umbellate, 1.5–2 × 0.5–1 cm, rachis not prolonged beyond flowers; involucres a narrow, membranous, dentate rim, 1 mm. |
terminal or axillary, 15–35-flowered, ovoid-ellipsoid, 1.1–2.2 × 1–1.5 cm; involucres absent. |
Peduncles | 0.5–3 cm. |
2.5–10 cm. |
Pedicels | erect, 1 mm; bracteoles cuplike, membranous, 0.5–1 mm. |
absent; bracteoles cuplike, to 0.5 mm. |
Flowers | 15–20 mm; calyx campanulate, 4–7 mm, glabrous, veins 5–10, tube 3–4 mm, lobes equal, triangular-acuminate, orifice open; corolla purple or violet, 15–20 mm, banner oblong, 15–20 × 7–9 mm, apex rounded, slightly retuse. |
10–12 mm; calyx tubular, 4–8 mm, densely pubescent, veins 20–30, tube 2–4 mm, lobes nearly equal, appearing rigidly erect, linear-setaceous, plumose, sinuses acute, orifice open; corolla red-violet to pink, with pink or white tips, 7–12 mm, banner ovate-oblong, 9–11 × 3–4 mm, apex broadly rounded, emarginate. |
Legumes | oblanceoloid, 9–11 mm. |
obovoid, 3–3.5 mm. |
Seeds | 4–6, tan or brown, mitten-shaped, 2–2.2 mm, smooth, dull. |
1, yellow-brown, ellipsoid, 2–2.5 mm, smooth. |
2n | = 16. |
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Trifolium nanum |
Trifolium dichotomum |
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Phenology | Flowering Jun–Aug. | Flowering Apr–May. |
Habitat | Alpine slopes, tundra. | Grassy slopes, meadows, adjacent to chaparral, serpentine soils, coastal dunes, open slopes, meadows, oak woodlands, disturbed areas. |
Elevation | 2600–4500 m. (8500–14800 ft.) | 0–1700 m. (0–5600 ft.) |
Distribution |
CO; MT; NM; UT; WY
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CA; OR; WA; BC
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Discussion | Trifolium nanum is abundant in alpine tundra areas from Montana through Wyoming and Utah into Colorado (where it is most common) and northern New Mexico; populations are morphologically variable with regard to leaf size and petiole length, and this variability appears to be related to water availability (J. M. Gillett 1965). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Trifolium dichotomum is reportedly tetraploid (H. Wexelsen 1928) and closely related to the diploid T. albopurpureum. A so-called small form of T. dichotomum was named T. dichotomum var. turbinatum [T. californicum forma turbinatum (Jepson) McDermott]. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 11. | FNA vol. 11. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | T. albopurpureum var. dichotomum, T. californicum, T. dichotomum var. turbinatum, T. insularum, T. macraei var. dichotomum, T. petrophilum | |
Name authority | Torrey: Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 1: 35, plate 3, fig. 4. (1824) | Hooker & Arnott: Bot. Beechey Voy., 330. (1838) |
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