Trifolium parryi
Amer. J. Sci. Arts, ser. 2, 33: 409. 1862.
Herbs perennial, 10–20 cm, glabrous. Stems erect or ascending, loosely cespitose, sometimes rhizomatous, sparsely branched. Leaves palmate; stipules oblong, 0.5–2 cm, margins entire, apex acute to short-acuminate; petiole 2–10 cm; petiolules 0.5 mm; leaflets 3, blades elliptic to obovate, 1–4.1 × 0.5–1.6 cm, base cuneate, veins fine, margins entire, serrulate, or dentate, apex usually acute or obtuse, rarely retuse or apiculate, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles 2.5–15 cm. Inflorescences terminal, 15–20-flowered, globose, ovoid, or ellipsoid, 1.4–3.7 × 1.8–3 cm; involucres formed of distinct or connate bracteoles, apex acute or obtuse. Pedicels erect, reflexed slightly, or only those of proximal flowers reflexed, 1 mm; bracteoles purplish, oblong, 3–6 mm, scarious. Flowers 12–22 mm; calyx campanulate, slightly gibbous, 6–9 mm, glabrous, veins 10, tube 3–4 mm, lobes unequal, subulate to narrowly triangular, orifice open; corolla pale purplish violet, keel petals darker purple, 10–22 mm, banner broadly elliptic or obovate, 10–22 × 8–10 mm, apex rounded, acute, or retuse. Legumes stipitate, oblong, 6–7 mm. Seeds 1–4, tan or brown, mitten-shaped, 1.5–2 mm, smooth, dull.
Distribution
w United States.
Discussion
Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).
Subdivision of Trifolium parryi into three subspecies (J. M. Gillett 1965) or two varieties (D. Isely 1998) was rejected by R. C. Barneby (1989).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Inflorescences ellipsoid, 3–3.7 cm; leaflet blades thick; stipules 1.5–2 cm; peduncles thickened. | Trifolium parryi subsp. salictorum |
| 1 | Inflorescences globose or ovoid, 1.4–2.9 cm; leaflet blades thin; stipules 0.5–1 cm; peduncles slender or slightly thickened. | > 2 |
| 2 | Involucres: bracteoles relatively large, acute; inflorescences 2.1–2.9 cm; flowers 14–22 mm; Colorado, New Mexico, s Wyoming. | Trifolium parryi subsp. parryi |
| 2 | Involucres: bracteoles relatively short, obtuse; inflorescences 1.4–2.4 cm; flowers 12–17 mm; s Idaho, Montana, e Utah, n Wyoming. | Trifolium parryi subsp. montanense |