Trifolium incarnatum L.

Annual; stems sparsely to densely hairy, usually sericeous, erect or ascending, not rooting at nodes. Lvs moderately hairy; petioles c. 15–80–(120) mm long; leaflets obovate, obtuse to slightly emarginate or slightly acute, sometimes shortly mucronate, cuneate at base, somewhat irregularly and usually indistinctly serrate toward apex, c. 8–30 mm long; lateral veins thin and straight to leaflet margin; petiolules up to 1.5 mm long, ± equal; stipules ovate, usually obtuse, sometimes acute. Infls terminal, spicate, usually cylindric, occasionally ovoid at early flowering, pedunculate, > subtending lf especially at fruiting; fls numerous, sessile; bracts 0. Calyx densely hairy, with 10 distinct veins, somewhat inflated on all sides at fruiting; throat open, not thickened, with a ring of hairs; calyx teeth ± equal, < corolla, linear-lanceolate, = or > tube, spreading at fruiting; sinuses acute to obtuse. Corolla crimson or scarlet, deciduous, 9–16 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, < calyx, 3–4 mm long, 1-seeded; seeds c. 2 mm diam.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.