Herbs perennial, 15–30 cm, gla­brous. Stems ascending, cespi­tose, branched. Leaves palmate; stipules ovate or lanceolate, 0.6–1.5 cm, margins entire, apex acute; petiole 1–7 cm; peti­olules to 1 mm; leaflets 3, blades obcordate, obovate, or elliptic, 1–1.9 × 0.5–1.1 cm, base cune­ate, veins fine to slightly thickened, margins setose, apex obtuse, rounded, or emarginate, apiculate, surfaces gla­brous. Peduncles slender, bent distally, just below flow­ers, 5–20 cm. Inflorescences terminal, 12–30-flowered, ovoid, 1–2 × 1.5–3 cm, rachis pro­longed beyond flowers, undivided or forked, often bearing sterile flower buds distally; involucres absent. Pedicels strongly reflexed, 1–1.2 mm; bracteoles minute, cuplike. Flowers 12–14 mm; calyx deep violet, campanulate, gibbous, 3–5 mm, glabrous, veins 5, tube 1.5–2 mm, lobes unequal, triangular-subulate, orifice open; corolla lavender to purplish, 11–12 mm, banner curved, oblanceolate, 10–12 × 3–4 mm, apex narrow, rounded, slightly emargin­ate. Legumes ellipsoid, 3–4 mm. Seeds 1 or 2, brown, ellipsoid, 1.2–1.5 mm, smooth.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Meadows.
Elevation: 2000–2300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Trifolium bolanderi is known from the Sierra Nevada in California and may be vulnerable to shifts in climate patterns. Genetic diversity of populations of the species (based on allozyme patterns) was found to be relatively high; two genetically distinct groups of populations are known (R. G. Denton 2002).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.