Trifolium ciliolatum Benth.
Fabaceae (Pea Family)NativeTree 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