Trifolium hybridum L.

Perennial; stems glabrous, erect or ascending, not rooting at nodes. Lvs glabrous; petioles c. 10–100 mm long; leaflets elliptic to obovate, usually obtuse, cuneate at base, finely serrate, c. 10–35 mm long; lateral veins thin and straight to leaflet margin; petiolules up to c. 1 mm long, ± equal; stipules ovate, acuminate. Infls axillary, racemose, globose, pedunculate, > lvs; fls numerous; pedicel up to 6 mm long; bracts subtending fls free. Calyx glabrous or sparsely hairy, 10-veined but 5 veins often indistinct, not inflated at fruiting; throat open, glabrous or sparsely hairy; calyx teeth somewhat unequal (2 upper slightly longer), < corolla, narrowly triangular, usually much > tube, sometimes only slightly >, erect at fruiting; sinuses obtuse. Corolla usually pink, persistent, 5–10 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, ± = calyx, 3–4 mm long, 1–4-seeded; seeds c. 1–1.5 mm diam.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Mar.