Family |
Fabaceae
Trifolium clypeatum
L.
Trifolium clypeatum L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 769 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 286, Pl. CIX, 1; 1970)
• Life-form & habit: Annual with prostrate or ascending stems, 20–60 cm long, bearing scattered spreading hairs.
• Leaves: Leaflets obovate, the lower ones notched at the tip. Stipules broadened, half-ovate and pointed.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Stalked heads are obovate during flowering, becoming compact, 1–2 cm or more across. Flowers few and large, with white or pale-pink corollas about 2 cm long. The brown, bell-shaped calyx has broad, leaf-like teeth, the lowest much longer than the others.
• Fruit: The persistent calyx has spreading, reflexed teeth with numerous veins and cross-veins; its throat closes in fruit.
• Phenology: Flowering December–April.
• Habitat & elevation: Fertile ground and grassy places.
• Lebanese distribution: Saida, Aouzai, Beirut, Jall ed Dib, Nahr el Kelb, Jbail, south of Ras Chekka, Qoubbayat, Antoura, Aley, Abey, Chemlan, Bikfaya, Hasroun, Jisr al Khardali, Sarada, Qornet Chehwan and Kfertay.
• Syrian distribution: Qalaat Marqab, Bhamra, Massiaf, Qalaat el Hosn, west of Sarmada, Heite above the Yarmouk and Massade.
• Native range: Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Türkiye.
• Introduced into: Algeria; Kew also lists Algeria under “Recorded in error”, so its status there is unresolved.