Herbs perennial, 10–15 cm, canescent. Stems erect, aerial stems sparsely branched. Leaves palmate; stipules lanceolate, 0.7–1.5 cm, margins coarsely spinulose-dentate, apex acumi­nate; petiole 1–3 cm; petiolules to 0.5 mm; leaflets 3, blades obovate, rhombic, or elliptic, sometimes folded, 0.9–1.5 × 0.5–1.3 cm, base cuneate, veins very thick, margins coarsely spinulose-dentate, apex rounded, long-apiculate, surfaces canescent. Peduncles 2–4.5 cm. Inflorescences axillary, 5–25-flowered, globose, 2.2–2.5 × 2.3–2.7 cm; involucres a narrow, papery, irregular rim, to 0.5 mm. Pedicels reflexed in fruit, 1.5–4 mm; bracteoles triangular, to 0.2 mm. Flowers 11–15 mm; calyx campanulate, 5–11 mm, pilose, veins 10, tube 1.8–2.2 mm, lobes subequal, lanceolate-setiform, orifice open; corolla creamy white with purplish veins, becoming pinkish purple-tinged, 10.5–13 mm, banner broadly rhombic-ovate or obovate, 10.5–13 × 5–7 mm, apex rounded, slightly emarginate. Legumes ovoid, 3–4 mm. Seeds 1 or 2, brown, mitten-shaped, 1.5–2 mm, smooth.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes and crests, ash-flows.
Elevation: 1900–2400 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Loading map...

Nev., Oreg.

Discussion

Trifolium leibergii is known from only a few popula­tions from Harney County, Oregon, and Elko County, Nevada. It is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.