Herbs annual, 10–35 cm, densely spreading-hairy. Stems curved-ascending, branched. Leaves palmate; stipules lanceolate-ovate, 0.8–1.8 cm, margins entire, apex long-setaceous; petiole 0.5–5 cm; petiolules 0.5 mm; leaflets 3, blades obovate to oblong, 0.8–2.5 × 0.5–1.3 cm, base cuneate, veins prominent, closely-spaced, margins denticulate distally, apex rounded, surfaces densely spreading-hairy. Peduncles absent. Inflorescences terminal on branches, 10–50-flowered, globose or ovoid, disarticulating in fruit, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm; involucres absent, involucrelike structures formed by enlarged stipules. Pedicels absent; bracteoles absent. Flowers 10–17 mm; calyx campanulate, 7–11 mm, pilose, veins 20, tube 2–5 mm, lobes subequal, abaxial slightly longer, orifice hairy, open; corolla pur­plish red, 10–14 mm, banner lanceolate, 10–14 × 1–2 mm, apex acute-acuminate. Legumes ovoid, leathery distally, transversely dehiscent, 2–3 mm. Seeds 1, tan or brown, globose-ellipsoid, 1.5–2 mm, smooth, glossy. 2n = 10.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–2100 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Ala., Calif., Fla., La., N.C., Oreg., Tenn., Va., s Europe, w Asia, n Africa, introduced also in s Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Trifolium hirtum was first cultivated in California in the 1940s as a forage plant and as a nitrogen source in roadside grass plantings (R. M. Love 1985); it is now widespread in that state. It was reported for Kentucky by D. Isely (1998); no non-cultivated specimens have been seen from that state (M. A. Vincent 2001).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.