Trifolium striatum L.

Annual; stems moderately to densely pilose, procumbent or erect and spreading, not rooting at nodes. Lvs moderately to densely sericeous; petioles c. 5–40–(60) mm long; leaflets obovate, acute to obtuse or slightly emarginate, sometimes mucronate, cuneate at base, rather irregularly and indistinctly finely serrate, c. 5–20 mm long; lateral veins thin and straight to leaflet margin; petiolules < 1 mm long, ± equal; stipules ovate, acuminate. Infls axillary and pseudoterminal, spicate, ovoid or cylindric, sessile, somewhat < or ± = subtending lf; fls numerous, sessile; bracts 0 but stipule of subtending lf partly enfolding young infl. Calyx moderately to densely hairy, with 10 distinct veins, somewhat inflated on all sides at fruiting; throat slightly constricted, thickened, with a ring of hairs; calyx teeth subequal or lower teeth longer, < or = corolla at flowering, lanceolate, < tube, erect at fruiting; sinuses obtuse. Corolla pink, persistent but ± enclosed by inflated calyx at fruiting, 4–5 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, < calyx, 2–3 mm long, 1-seeded; seeds c. 1.5–2 mm diam.

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

Flowering: Nov.–Feb.