Spangled clover

The spangled clover ( Trifolium stellatum L.) is a small very low Mediterranean plant. The plant owes its name with the form of sound chalice which, at the time of fructification, becomes red and is spread in a small star with five branches. It belongs to the kind Trifolium and to the family of the Fabacée S (or Leguminous plants).

Description

Ecology and habitat

Especially Mediterranean annual plant, rather rare elsewhere (it is protected in Poitou-Charentes). It pushes as well on acid grounds as basic, and appreciates the dry and sunny grounds. One meets it in the dry waste grounds and meadows, on the slopes, at the edge of the roads, often associated with Paronychia argentea . Flowering from May to July.

General and vegetative morphology

Herbaceous plant of small size (5 to 25 cm) to silky hairs and blanchâtres, ascending or set up stem. Sheet S alternate, lengthily petiolate, with large stipulate. The three small leaflets are in the shape of reversed heart, at slightly toothed end, clear veins.

Floral morphology

Fleur S hermaphrodites grouped in solitary globulous heads and with long stalk. The flowers are yellowish or dew, the corolla having about the same height as the chalice. Standard curved upwards, more length which wings and the hull. Chalice with long white lashes and 10 veins, 5 narrow teeth opening out of star with maturation. Pollination by the insects.

Fruit and seeds

The Fruit is small a Gousse monosperme (with a seed).

References

HYPPA

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