Trifolium scabrum L.

Annual; stems densely hairy, procumbent to erect, not rooting at nodes. Lvs moderately to densely hairy; petioles 2–15–(25) mm long; leaflets obovate, acute to obtuse, mucronate, cuneate at base, finely serrate, c. 4–12 mm long; lateral veins distinctly recurved and thickened toward leaflet margin; petiolules < 1 mm long; ± equal; stipules ovate, acuminate. Infls axillary and terminal, spicate, ovoid or globose, sessile, mostly somewhat < subtending lf; fls numerous, sessile or subsessile; bracts 0 but stipule of subtending lf partly enfolding young infls. Calyx moderately hairy, with 10 distinct veins, not inflated at fruiting; throat open, somewhat thickened, moderately hairy; calyx teeth somewhat unequal, narrowly triangular, spreading at fruiting; lower teeth slightly < ± =, or slightly > corolla, slightly > tube; sinuses acute. Corolla white, persistent, 4–5 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, < calyx, c. 1.5 mm long, 1-seeded; seeds c. 1–1.5 mm diam.

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

Flowering: Nov.