Trifolium medium
Common names
zigzag clover
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Simplified 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.
Flower colours
Red/Pink
Similar taxa
Red clover, Trifolium pratense. Some differences noted in the description above.
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.
Conservation status
Not applicable
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Fabaceae
Ecology
Year naturalised
1870
Origin
Europe, Asia Minor, S. Russia
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Webb, CJ; Sykes, WR; Garnock-Jones,PJ 1988. Flora of NZ Vol.4.