Trifolium medium

Wanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Abaxial leaf detail, Wanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Inflorescence, Wanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Inflorescence, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

View of inflorescence split vertically, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Adaxial leaf surface, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Leaf details, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 07/12/2018, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common name

zigzag clover

Family

Fabaceae

Authority

Trifolium medium L.

Flora category

Vascular – Exotic

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites

Conservation status

Not applicable

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.

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