Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Other common names
Palmer's clover
slender clover
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
3 to 12 inches
Riparian
Yes
Grows prostrate to erect in form with mostly hairless or slightly hairy herbage. The leaves are made up of lance-shaped to oval leaflets. The flower head is a cluster of flowers that spread out or flex downward.
Annual, can be slightly hairy; stems trailing to erect; leaves on stems, palmately compound, 3 leaflets; flower clusters rounded, 3 to many-flowered, often turn to side; flowers pink, pinkish-purple; sepals form tubes, 10-veined, shortly bristle-tipped.
Habitat
Open, disturbed, moist or dry places.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
6000
Flower Characteristics
Clustered flower head 3/4 inch wide, 3 to many flowers, becoming bent backwards; 1/4 inch sepal whorl, hairless; flower lobes less than 1/16 inch at base, slightly bristle-tipped; corolla 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Flower color
Pink, pinkish-purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
0
Last bloom month
0
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems trailing to erect; leaves with stems, 3 leaflets, 1/4 to 3/4 inch, fan outward from end of stem; stipules (small leaf-like appendages) oval and tapered.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Short, plump, 1/4 inch, indehiscent (not splitting open to release seed when ripe), but often breaking.
Fruit type
Pod