''Trifolium thompsonii'' is a species of flowering plant in the
known by the common name Thompson's clover.
It is
endemic to
Washington state in the United States, where it occurs in two counties.
[''Trifolium thompsonii''.]
Center for Plant Conservation.[''Trifolium thompsonii''.]
NatureServe. One of the largest populations occurs in the
Entiat Slopes Natural Area Preserve in
Chelan County.
[Washington State Department of Natural Resources]
Entiat Slopes NAP.
Accessed April 13, 2014.
This is a large
clover with a thick stem growing up to 60 centimeters tall. The leaves are divided into three to eight serrated leaflets. The
inflorescence is a round head of several bright red-lavender flowers. Blooming occurs in May through July.
[ Pollinators include ]bumblebees
A bumblebee (or bumble bee, bumble-bee, or humble-bee) is any of over 250 species in the genus ''Bombus'', part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct related gener ...
and the Greenish Blue
''Icaricia saepiolus'', the greenish blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from the northwestern United States to southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The wingspan is 21–28 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August.< ...
, a butterfly.[
This species grows in several types of habitat.][ One study identified four plant associations that include the clover. The '' Pseudotsuga menziesii''/'']Calamagrostis rubescens
''Calamagrostis rubescens'' is a species of grass known by the common name pinegrass.
Distribution
It is native to western North America, including Canada from British Columbia to Manitoba and the United States from California to Colorado. It ca ...
'' forest habitat is a cooler, moister area with associated species such as '' Spiraea betulifolia'', ''Penstemon fruticosus
''Penstemon fruticosus'' is a species of penstemon known by the common names bush penstemon or shrubby penstemon. It is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America from Oregon to British Columbia, and east to the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, ...
'', '' Balsamorhiza sagittata'', and '' Achillea millefolium''. The '' Artemisia vaseyana''/''Agropyron spicatum
''Pseudoroegneria spicata'' is a species of grass known by the common name bluebunch wheatgrass. This native western North American perennial bunchgrass is also known by the scientific synonyms ''Elymus spicatus'' and ''Agropyron spicatum''. The g ...
'' association includes '' Artemisia tripartita'', '' Poa secunda'', and '' Festuca idahoensis''. A third association, the ''Pinus ponderosa
''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...
''/''Agropyron spicatum'' has sparse tree cover, a grass understory, and no tall shrubs. Associated species include '' Eriogonum heracleoides'', ''Phlox longifolia
''Phlox'' (; Greek φλόξ "flame"; plural "phlox" or "phloxes", Greek φλόγες ''phlóges'') is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in di ...
'', ''Haplopappus stenophyllus
''Haplopappus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae found in South America, mostly restricted to the dry regions of the Southern Andes, Chilean Matorral, and Patagonia.
Taxonomy Species
Species accepted by the Plants of the ...
'', and ''Antennaria rosea
''Antennaria rosea'' is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name rosy pussytoes. Other common names include cat's foot and mountain everlasting. The second part of its scientific name, rosea, i ...
''. The '' Artemisia tridentata''/''Agropyron spicatum'' association is a drier habitat which includes many forbs such as ''Allium acuminatum
''Allium acuminatum'', also known as the tapertip onion or Hooker's onion, is a species in the genus ''Allium'' native to North America.
Distribution
It is found the Western United States and Canada. It has been reported from every state west of ...
'', ''Agoseris grandiflora
''Agoseris grandiflora'' is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names California dandelion, bigflower agoseris, and grassland agoseris.
The plant is native to western North America from Britis ...
'', ''Lomatium nudicaule
''Lomatium nudicaule'' is a species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae, carrot family known by the common names pestle lomatium,Great Basin Wildflowers, Laird R. Blackwell, 2006, Morris Book Publishing LLC., barestem biscuitroot, Indian celery a ...
'', and '' Lupinus sericeus''.[Scherer, G., et al. (1996)]
Habitat characteristics and morphological differences of ''Trifolium thompsonii'' populations.
''Northwest Science'' 70(3) 242-51.
A Research Natural Area, the Thompson Clover Research Natural Area, was established in 1977[ in the Wenatchee National Forest for the study and protection of this species.][Thompson Clover Research Natural Area.]
References
External links
Washington Burke Museum
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7841552
thompsonii
Flora of Washington (state)