THE PEA FAMILY 
67 
(diadelphous) ; carpels 1. Fruit a pod, short, stalkless (sessile), enclosed in the calyx-tube, 
1-4-seeded, often not opening by valves but decaying to free the seeds (indehiscent). Herbs with 
leaves divided to the base into 3 leaflets (palmately trifoliate), leaflets usually toothed, with the 
stipules adhering to the leaf-stalks. 
Subterranean Clover. (Trifolium subterraneum, Linn.)— As just described. The 
flowers small, | inch long, stalkless (sessile), white or pale pink, generally 2 or 3 together, in 
shortly-stalked heads, erect in flower, but bending in fruit and burying themselves in the earth ; 
the calyx shorter than the corolla, the teeth pointed and equal in length ; each flower being 
surrounded by many undeveloped calices ; the pods round, i-seeded, generally ripening 
underground. The stems 6-18 inches long, hairy, creeping; the leaves divided to the base into 
3 inversely heart-shaped (obcordate) leaflets, with broad, pointed stipules. 
Uncommon. Dry, sandy places, chiefly in the south of England. May — June. Annual. 
Common Red or Purple Clover. (Trifolium pratense, Linn.)— Flowers f inch long, 
purplish-pink, rarely yellowish-white, sweet-scented, becoming brown when faded, in dense, roundish- 
oblong, stalkless (sessile) heads ; the calyx-teeth long and bristle-like, 1 longer than the other 
4; and the pods i-seeded. [As described in the genus Trifolium.] The stems numerous, 2-18 
inches long, prostrate ; the leaves on long stalks, divided to the base into 3 broad, finely-toothed 
leaflets ; and the stipules large, egg-shaped (ovate), ending in a long bristle. \Plate 34. 
Very common ; this is the ordinary field clover of cultivation. Fields, waste ground. May — July. 
Biennial. 
Zigzag 1 Clover. (Trifolium medium, Linn.) — A very similar species, with round heads 
of flowers of a brighter red, a taller, more slender, zigzag stem, narrower leaves, and lance-shaped 
stipules. This clover is sometimes cultivated for fodder. 
Very common. Bushy places, roadsides, dry meadows. May — September. Perennial. 
Sulphur-coloured Clover. (Trifolium oehroleucon, Huds.) — Another species similar 
to the Common Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), having cream-coloured flowers on stalked heads, 
the calyx half the length of the corolla, rather narrower leaflets, and lance-shaped stipules. 
Rare, local. Eastern counties, on dry pastures. June — August. Perennial. 
Teazel-headed Clover. (Trifolium squamosum, Linn.) — Flowers smaller than in the 
last 3 species, §-£ inch long, pink, in roundish, shortly-stalked heads ; the calyx ending in 
5 shorter, rigid, pointed teeth (subulate), 1 longer than the others, increasing in size and becoming 
leafy in fruit. The stem 6-18 inches long, procumbent, and much branched; the leaflets oblong 
entire, and the stipules very long and narrow. 
Rare. Salt marshes and meadows near salt water in the south of England and southern 
Ireland. June — July. Annual. 
*Crimson Clover. (Trifolium incarnatum, Linn.)— Not a native. A species much 
cultivated for fodder. Flowers | inch long, rich crimson, in close spike-like, stalked, cylindrical 
heads, 1-2 inches long; the calyx about as long as the corolla, with the teeth slender and 
pointed, nearly equal in length, softly hairy; the pods i-seeded. The stem 6-18 inches 
high, slender, softly hairy, and the leaves divided to the base into 3 leaflets, which are inversely 
egg-shaped (obovate), with broad, blunt stipules. 
Not common. An escape, found in England and Scotland, naturalised in Jersey. June — July. 
Annual. 
Balbi’s Clover. (Trifolium Molinerii, Balb.) — A similar variety, having pale yellow flowers. 
Very rare, only found at the Lizard. June — July. Annual. 
*Starry Clover. (Trifolium stellatum, Linn.)— Not a native. The flower small, 
f 2 
