Herbs annual, 2–60 cm, gla­brous. Stems erect or ascending, branched. Leaves palmate; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–2.5 cm, membranous, margins entire or slightly ser­rate, apex long-acuminate; petiole 0.5–9 cm; petiolules to 0.5 mm; leaflets 3, blades obovate to obcordate, 0.5–2.5 × 0.2–1.5 cm, base cuneate, veins moderately thick­ened, margins setose-serrulate, apex rounded, shallowly retuse, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles 1–9 cm. Inflo­rescences axillary or terminal, 10–25-flowered, globose to subglobose, 0.5–2 × 0.5–2 cm, rachis prolonged beyond flowers; involucres a narrow, membranous, dentate rim, to 0.5 mm. Pedicels becoming dramatically reflexed, 3–4 mm; bracteoles low, cuplike, membranous, to 0.5 mm. Flowers 5–7.5 mm; calyx narrowly cam­panulate, 4.5–6.5 mm, glabrous, veins 10, tube 2–2.5 mm, lobes unequal, long-triangular, margins green or purple, orifice open; corolla white, pink, or purple, 5–8 mm, banner ovate, 5–8 × 3–4 mm, apex broadly rounded, retuse or apiculate. Legumes ovoid-ellipsoid, 4–6 mm. Seeds 1 or 2, tan to brown, mitten-shaped, 1.1–1.5 mm, smooth. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jun.
Habitat: Open, grassy areas, gravelly ridges, roadsides, adobe slopes, moist places.
Elevation: 50–1200 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Oreg., Wash., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Abundance of Trifolium gracilentum increases in response to burns (J. M. DiTomaso et al. 1999).

The record of Trifolium gracilentum from South Carolina is a waif.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.