Trifolium microcephalum Pursh   Fabaceae (Pea Family)   Native   Small-headed Clover   Maiden Clover

                                       April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Mostly slender-stemmed annual, +/- villous, the stems procumbent to ascending, branched from base, 2-4 dm. long; stipules ovate, acuminate, +/- toothed; lfts. obcordate to oblanceolate, retuse, serrate, 0.5-1.5 cm. long; peduncles very slender, commonly 3-7 cm. long; invols. ca. 5-8 mm. broad, deeply campanulate, the lobes 7-10, lanceolate, entire, with scarious weblike margins; heads small, 5-10 mm. long; calyx ca. 4 mm. long, pubescent, the teeth subulate, about equaling the tube; corolla rose to white, ca. 6 mm. long; pods 1-2 seeded.

Habitat:  Open grassy places below 7500 ft.; many Plant Communities; cismontane Calif., Channel Ids.; to B.C., n. L. Calif., Nev.  April-Aug.

Name:  Latin, tres, three and folium, leaf.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 473).  Greek, mikros, small and Greek, kephale, a head.  Referring to the small flower heads.  (Jaeger 155,50).

General:  Rare in the study area, found only near the bluff top southerly of San Joaquin Hills Rd. and northerly of the Newporter Canyon.  In April 1993 I found specimens along the path at the edge of the second draw southerly of the Delhi Ditch. (my comments).       The California Indians ate the tender leaves, both raw and cooked, as well as the seeds.  Some tribes celebrated the spring appearance of the clover with special ceremonial dances.  (Dale 118).       About 300 species, most abundant in N. Temp., but also in S. Am. and Afr.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 470).

Text Ref: Abrams, Vol. II 533; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 473; Roberts 25.

Photo Ref:  April-May 92 # 21,22,23.

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

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 431. Computer Ref:  Plant Data 431.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 1/21/03.

                                                  April Photo