Trifolium fragiferum L.
strawberry clover
Fabaceae (Pea family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #7537)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Trifolium fragiferum
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Trifolium fragiferum ssp. bonannii

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a rhizome; stems decumbent to trailing and rooting at the nodes, somewhat hairy, 5-30 cm long.
Leaves:
More or less basal, palmately compound; leaflets 3, elliptic to egg-shaped, 1-2.5 cm long, finely toothed, rounded and notched at the top, with a tiny pointy-tip in the notch; stipules 15-20 mm long, narrow, long-pointed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a dense, globe-shaped, long-stalked head of numerous pea-like flowers, the heads 8-12 mm wide at flowering time but becoming larger, fuzzy and reddish-brown with age; involucral bracts tiny; corollas purple to pink, 4-6 mm long; calyces coarse-hairy, at first from 2/3 as long as to equalling the corollas, quickly exceeding and hiding them, the tube inflated and net-veined in age so that the head looks like a mass of veined bladders, the teeth linear to bristle-like.
Fruits:
Pods; seeds 1 to 2.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Purple
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer
Source:  The USDA

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry roadsides, fields and waste places in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; rare in S BC; introduced from Europe.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Trifolium fragiferum subsp. bonannii (C. Presl) Soják