Herbs perennial, 5–20 cm, appressed-pubescent. Stems cespitose, branched, numerous short stems. Leaves pal­mate; stipules lanceolate-linear, 1.5–2 cm, margins entire, apex acuminate; petiole 0.6–3.5 cm; petiolules to 0.5 mm; leaflets 3, blades oblong-elliptic, oblanceolate, or obovate, sometimes folded, 0.6–3.2 × 0.2–0.6 cm, base cuneate, veins obscure, margins entire, apex acute, sur­faces glabrous or hairy. Peduncles 2–17 cm. Inflo­res­cences axillary or terminal, 5–16-flowered, globose, 1.5–3.5 × 1.2–3.3 cm; involucres formed of proximal brac­teoles, bases sometimes connate. Pedicels erect, 1.5–2 mm; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, scarious, 2–6 mm, or scale­like. Flowers 12–16 mm; calyx campanulate, 6–9 mm, pubescent, veins 10, tube 2–5 mm, lobes unequal, linear-subulate, orifice open; corolla often bicolored cream and violet, sometimes all red-purple or violet, 1.2–1.6 mm, banner broadly elliptic-ovate, 11–15 × 4–5 mm, folded distally, apex rounded, apiculate; ovaries pubescent distally. Legumes oblong, 4–6 mm. Seeds 1–3, dark brown, ovoid-reniform, 2–2.5 mm, smooth. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Alpine meadows, rocky slopes.
Elevation: 2100–4100 m.

Distribution

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Colo., Mont., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Three subspecies of Trifolium dasyphyllum were recognized by J. M. Gillett (1965), but he commented on the overlap in diagnostic characters of the subspecies. In their monograph of Trifolium, M. Zohary and D. Heller (1984) mirrored the treatment by Gillett, and also commented on intermediacy of characters in some specimens. The subspecies were not accepted by R. D. Dorn (1988), citing extensive intergradation, or by R. C. Barneby (1989), citing variability within T. dasyphyllum that is not linked with distribution or other morphological features.

Trifolium dasyphyllum is found from eastern Utah and from Santa Fe County in New Mexico northward through central Colorado to central and northwestern Wyoming and Cascade, Gallatin, and Madison counties in Montana.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.