Trifolium ciliolatum Benth.

 

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

 

Native

 

Tree Clover     

                                        April Photo

 

Plant Characteristics: Glabrous pale green annual with erect +/- fistulous stems 2-5 dm. high; petioles to ca. 10 cm. long; stipules lanceolate-acuminate, 15-30 mm. long; lfts. oblong to +/- obovate, 1-3 cm. long, obtuse, entire to serrulate; peduncles 5-15 cm. long; heads ovoid, 10-20 mm. long; pedicels reflexed in age; calyx shorter than the corolla, the  5 teeth lance-acuminate, ciliate with short flat appendages; corolla pinkish-purple, 6-7 mm. long, the banner inflated at the base; pods 1-2 seeded.

 

Habitat:  Frequent on open grassy slopes below 5000 ft.; many Plant Communities; most of cismontane Calif.; to Wash.  March-June.

 

Name:  Latin, tres, three, and folium, leaf.  Munz, Flora So. Calif. 470).  N.L. cilia, a hair or hair-like process, and Latin, latus, side.  (Jaeger 57, 137).  Ciliolatum, referring to the hairs on the sides of the calyx.  (my comment).

 

General:  Rare in the study area, having been found only once and this along the edge of the second draw southerly (going toward 23rd St.) of the bridge across the Delhi Ditch.  (my comment).    California Indians enjoyed fresh clover; the Yuki of northern California generally ate the fresh green part of the clover before it flowered.  The seeds and flowers of some species were also eaten but after flowering the greens became bitter and tough.  T. ciliolatum was one of the species eaten.  (Campbell 137).      For additional information on the genus Trifolium, see the data sheets for T. amplectans, T. gracilentum var. gracilentum, T. hirtum, and T. microcephalum.

 

Text Ref:  Abrams, Vol. II 524; Hickman, Ed. 650; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 472; Roberts 25.

Photo Ref:  April 93 # 15,17.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

 

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 443.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit  1/20/03.

 

                                              April Photo