Trifolium suffocatum L.

Annual; stems glabrous, procumbent, not rooting at nodes. Lvs glabrous; petioles c. 10–80 mm long; leaflets obtriangular to obovate, obtuse, mucronate, cuneate at base, finely serrate, c. 3–15 mm long; lateral veins thin and straight to leaflet margin; petiolules < 1 mm long, ± equal; stipules ovate, acuminate. Infls axillary, spicate, globose, sessile, densely crowded on the short stems; fls numerous, sessile, remaining ± erect at fruiting; bracts subtending fls free. Calyx sparsely hairy, with 10 indistinct veins, not inflated at fruiting; throat open, ± glabrous; calyx teeth subequal, > corolla, triangular, ± = tube, slightly recurved at fruiting; sinuses acute. Corolla whitish, persistent, 2–3 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, < calyx, 2–3 mm long, (1)–2-seeded; seeds c. 1 mm diam.

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

Flowering: Oct.–May.