Trifolium dedeckerae

Herbs perennial, 20–25 cm, glabrous. Stems ± erect, loosely cespitose, branched. Leaves basal and cauline, palmate; stipules ovate, 1.1–1.5 cm, margins entire, apex acuminate-subulate; petiole 5–15 cm; petiolules absent; leaflets 3, blades lanceolate to linear, 2–4 × 0.1–0.6 cm, base cuneate, veins prominent, margins remotely serrate, apex acute, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles 7–16 cm, slightly twisted apically. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, 10–18-flowered, ellipsoid to subglobose, 1.8–2.2 × 2.3–2.5 cm, rachis prolonged beyond flowers, undivided or forked, often bearing sterile flower buds distally; involucres absent. Pedicels strongly reflexed in fruit, 0.5 mm; bracteoles minute. Flowers 13–15 mm; calyx tubular-campanulate, 6–8.5 mm, glabrous, veins 10, tube 2–2.5 mm, lobes unequal, triangular-subulate, orifice open; corolla pink to purple, 15 mm, banner oblong, 14–16 × 6–7 mm, apex acute or apiculate. Legumes ellipsoid, 5 mm. Seeds 1 or 2, brown, flattened ovoid, 2 mm, smooth.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Rock crevices, dry slopes.
Elevation: 2100–3400 m.

Calif.

Discussion

Trifolium dedeckerae is known from Inyo, Kern, Mono, and Tulare counties. It is similar to T. macilentum and T. productum, from which it differs by its much narrower leaflets (J. M. Gillett 1972).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa