''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' is a species of

clover Clover or trefoil are common names for plants of the genus ''Trifolium'' (from Latin ''tres'' 'three' + ''folium'' 'leaf'), consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume or pea family Fabaceae originating in Europe. The genus ...

known by the common name hollyleaf clover. It is native to the western United States, from

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

, and

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

. It can be found in many types of habitat, including

sagebrush scrub Sagebrush scrub is a vegetation type (biome) of mid to high elevation Western United States deserts characterized by low growing, drought resistant shrubs including sagebrush (''Artemisia tridentata'') and its associates.Karen Wiese, Sierra Nevada ...

Description

''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' is a small perennial herb with stems spreading along the ground to form a flat mat or clump. The leaves are each made up of 3 to 5 thick, hairy leaflets with serrated edges. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...

is an umbel of flowers spreading out or flexing downward. The flower is roughly a centimeter long and dull pink or brownish in color.

Subspecies

*''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' ssp. ''plummerae'' — Plummer's clover, an Endangered species within

, but the subspecies is apparently secure, considering populations outside California.California Native Plant Society, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02): ''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' ssp. ''plummerae''
. accessed 2.28.2016.

References

External links

Calflora Database: ''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' (Hollyleaf clover)Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of ''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' ssp. ''plummerae''UC CalPhotos gallery: ''Trifolium gymnocarpon'' ssp. ''plummerae''
gymnocarpon Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of the Southwestern United States Flora of California Flora of New Mexico Flora of the Great Basin Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Trifolieae-stub