Trifolium dubium Sibth.

Annual; stems sparsely to densely hairy, procumbent or ascending, not rooting at nodes. Lvs glabrous to moderately hairy on petioles and undersurface of leaflets; petioles 1–5–(20) mm long; leaflets obovate, usually emarginate, occasionally obtuse, rarely some leaflets shortly mucronate, cuneate at base, finely serrate, c. 3–12 mm long; lateral veins thin and straight to leaflet margin; petiolules distinctly unequal on most lvs; lateral petiolules < 1 mm long; terminal petiolule up to 2–(3) mm long; stipules ovate, acute. Infls axillary, racemose, cylindric to globose, pedunculate, much > lvs; fls 5–20–(25); pedicels 0–1 mm long; bracts subtending fls reduced to glandular hairs. Calyx ± glabrous, occasionally sparsely hairy, 5-veined, not inflated at fruiting; throat open, glabrous; calyx teeth unequal, < corolla, erect at fruiting; 3 lower teeth longer, lanceolate, ± = or somewhat > tube; 2 upper teeth triangular and < tube; sinuses obtuse. Corolla yellow, persistent, 2.5–4 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, > calyx, 2–3 mm long, 1-seeded; seeds c. 1–1.5 mm diam.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Jun.