Trifolium hirtum All.   Fabaceae (Pea Family)   Eurasia Bristled Clover  Rose Clover

                                       March Photo

Plant Characteristics: Densely long-villous annual, 1-4 dm. high; lvs. palmately trifoliolate; stipules narrow, with a long bristle-tip; lfts. narrowly cuneate-obovate, 0.8-2 cm. long; heads globose, sessile, subtended by paired lvs. or their stipules, 1.5-2.5 cm. in diam.; calyx 20-nerved, densely hirsute with ascending hairs, the setaceous lobes 4-6 mm. long, exceeding the tube; corolla purple, slender, longer than the calyx.

Habitat:  Goleta, Santa Ynez Mts., etc.; to cent. Calif.;  April-May.

Name: Latin, tres, three and folium, leaf.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 470).  Latin, hirtum,  hairy.  (Simpson 277). 

General:  Found in several locations in the study area, all on the westerly side of the bay.  I suspect that some the stands were introduced with an erosion control mix of seeds sprayed by the Irvine Co. on newly graded areas.  The photographed specimens were near the Delhi Ditch.  (my comments).      All of the species can be eaten raw, but sparingly as they are hard to digest and can cause bloat.  However, due to the high protein content they are quite nutritious and can be eaten in quantity if cooked, or soaked for several hours in strong salt water.  (Kirk 100).        The medical profession gives little attention to the medicinal properties of clover, yet the plant, for a long time, has been employed domestically as an antispasmodic, as an expectorant and as an ointment for local application to ulcers.  (Coon 212).        About 300 species, most abundant in Northern Temperate regions, but also in South America and Africa.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 470).      Naturalized in California.  (Hickman, Ed. 652).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 652; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 473; Roberts 25.

Photo Ref:  Mar 4 85 # 17,18.

Identity: by John Johnson.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 107

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 1/21/03.

                                            March Photo