Herbs annual, 20–60 cm, appressed-pubescent. Stems erect, branched. Leaves 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. Peduncles 0.5–9 cm. Inflores­cences terminal, 25–100-flowered, ovoid, elongate in fruit, 1–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm; involucres minute or absent. Pedicels absent; bracteoles absent. Flowers 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. Legumes ellipsoid, leathery distally, transversely dehis­cent, 2.2–2.5 mm. Seeds 1, yellow, ovoid, 2–2.2 mm, smooth, glossy. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Calif., w Asia (Syria), introduced also in e Asia (e China), n Africa, Australia.

Discussion

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).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.