Trifolium gymnocarpon

Trifolium gymnocarpon is a species of clover known by the common name hollyleaf clover.^[3]

Trifolium gymnocarpon
var. plummerae
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Trifolium
Species:	T. gymnocarpon
Binomial name
Trifolium gymnocarpon Nutt.
Synonyms[2]
List Trifolium gymnocarpon subsp. plummerae (S.Watson) J.M.Gillett (1972) Trifolium gymnocarpon var. plummerae (S.Watson) J.S.Martin (1946) Trifolium gymnocarpon f. plummerae (S.Watson) McDermott (1910) Trifolium gymnocarpon var. subcaulescens (A.Gray) A.Nelson (1909) Trifolium nemorale Greene (1900) Trifolium plummerae S.Watson (1880) Trifolium plummeri Lemmon ex Lojac. (1883) Trifolium subcaulescens A.Gray (1861)

It is native to the western United States, from California to New Mexico, and Oregon to Montana. It can be found in many types of habitat, including sagebrush scrub.

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 hairy leaflets with serrated edges (sometimes, due to a genetic mutation that is relatively common in this species, clovers with 4 or 5 leaflets may also be seen). The inflorescence 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 California, but the subspecies is apparently secure, considering populations outside California.^[4]