Trifolium lemmonii
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 11: 127. 1876. (as lemmoni)
Herbs perennial, subcaulescent, 10–20 cm, appressed-pubescent. Stems cespitose, branched. Leaves palmate; stipules ovate to lanceolate, 0.8–1 cm, margins irregularly lobed, apex acuminate; petiole 1–16.5 cm; petiolules 0.5 mm; leaflets 3–7, blades obovate or elliptic, 0.9–1.9 × 0.5–0.8 cm, base cuneate, veins prominent abaxially, margins coarsely dentate, apex rounded, acute, or mucronate, surfaces strigose. Peduncles sharply bent distally, just below flowers, 5–15 cm, surpassing leaves. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, 15–30-flowered, globose to subglobose, 2–3 × 2–3 cm; involucres a narrow membranous, dentate rim, to 0.2 mm. Pedicels reflexed in fruit, 2–3 mm; bracteoles minute, cuplike, membranous, minute. Flowers 11–13 mm; calyx purple, campanulate, 3–5 mm, slightly pilose, veins 5 (obscure), tube 2–2.5 mm, lobes subequal, subulate, orifice open; corolla white to pink, 10–12 mm, banner oblong-obovate, 10–12 × 4–5 mm, apex rounded, emarginate. Legumes oblong, 3.2–3.5 mm. Seeds 1, dark brown, ellipsoid, 2.5–3 mm, smooth.
Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Dry, rocky soils, roadsides.
Elevation: 1500–2500 m.
Discussion
Populations of Trifolium lemmonii studied by S. J. Sommer (1999) fall into two groups, east (in Sierra County, California, and Washoe County, Nevada) and west (in Plumas County, California) of a gap where no suitable habitat is known; gene flow between these two regions appears to be limited.
Selected References
None.