Trifolium pratense
Trifolium alexandrinum
red clover
Egyptian clover
erect, ascending, or decumbent, branched.
erect, branched.
palmate;
stipules broadly triangular, 1–2 cm, margins entire, sometimes ciliate, apex mucronate or setaceous;
petiole 1–9 cm;
petiolules 1 mm;
leaflets 3, blades elliptic to obovate, 1.5–5 × 0.7–1.5 cm, base cuneate, veins prominent, margins subentire, apex obtuse, acute, or retuse, surfaces appressed-pubescent.
palmate;
stipules lanceolate, 1–2 cm, margins denticulate distally, plumose-ciliate, apex caudate;
petiole 1–8 cm;
petiolules 1+ mm;
leaflets 3, blades broadly elliptic to oblong, 1–5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, base cuneate, veins fine, margins denticulate, apex usually mucronate, sometimes retuse, surfaces hairy.
terminal, solitary or paired, 75–100+-flowered, globose or ovoid, 1.2–7.7 × 0.7–2.2 cm;
involucres absent, involucrelike structures formed of stipules of distalmost leaves.
terminal, 25–100-flowered, ovoid, elongate in fruit, 1–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm;
involucres minute or absent.
± 0 cm, subtended by stipules of distal leaves.
0.5–9 cm.
straight, 0–1 mm;
bracteoles absent.
absent;
bracteoles absent.
15–18 mm;
calyx tubular-campanulate, 8–11 mm, hairy, veins 10, tube 3–4 mm, lobes unequal, adaxial equaling tube, lateral and abaxial 2 times tube, orifice hairy, slightly closed;
corolla usually rose-purple, rarely pink or white, 13–18 mm, banner elliptic-ovate, 10–13 × 3–5 mm, apex narrowly rounded.
13–16 mm;
calyx cylindric (campanulate in fruit), 6–8 mm, appressed-hairy, veins 10, tube 1–2 mm, lobes erect to slightly spreading, equal or abaxial 2 slightly longer, narrowly triangular, orifice open, hairy;
corolla cream or yellowish white, 13–16 mm, banner narrowly spatulate, 13–16 × 3–4 mm, apex obtuse.
oblong, leathery distally, transversely dehiscent, 3 mm.
ellipsoid, leathery distally, transversely dehiscent, 2.2–2.5 mm.
1 or 2, yellow, yellow-brown, or purple, ovoid, 1.6–2 mm, smooth, dull.
1, yellow, ovoid, 2–2.2 mm, smooth, glossy.
= 14.
= 16.
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium alexandrinum
Trifolium pratense is morphologically variable and numerous varieties have been recognized (M. Zohary and D. Heller 1984). Distinctions among these are slight and intergradation is common, perhaps due to the long-time cultivation of the species. In North America, the following varieties are sometimes recognized: var. pratense with stems decumbent to ascending, 20–40 cm, with dense, appressed, white hairs; var. sativum Schreber with stems mostly erect, 40–100 cm, sparsely hairy or glabrous; and var. americanum Harz with stems 30–100 cm, with dense, spreading hairs.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Trifolium alexandrinum (known also as berseem, from its Arabic name) has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for millennia and appears to have been introduced into Egypt in the sixth century (P. B. Kennedy and W. W. Mackie 1925). The origin of T. alexandrinum was long shrouded in mystery, because it appeared that the progenitors of the species were possibly extinct (W. E. Knight 1985b). Examination of similar species using molecular data gave indications that T. berytheum Boissier & C. I. Blanche and T. salmoneum Mouterde might be the primary ancestors from which domestication occurred through artificial selection in Syria (A. Badr et al. 2008).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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