Trifolium medium
Common name
zigzag clover
Family
Fabaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Brief description
Rhizomatous perennial, stems straggling to ascending, branching at regular intervals (‘zigzag’), hairy. Leaves hairy below, glabrous above, leaflets lacking the crescent markings typical of T. pratense; more narrow than in T. pratense. Flower heads stalked; calyx teeth unequal, linear.
Distribution
‘Waikato, Molesworth, Oamaru. Rare casual of waste places and cultivated land, formerly more widespread” (Webb et al. 1988). Bushy Park near Wanganui 2014.
Habitat
Old pasture, waste places, cultivated land.
Similar taxa
Red clover, Trifolium pratense. Some differences noted in the description above.
Flower colours
Red/Pink
Year naturalised
1870
Origin
Europe, Asia Minor, S. Russia
References and further reading
Webb, CJ; Sykes, WR; Garnock-Jones,PJ 1988. Flora of NZ Vol.4.