Trifolium subterraneum L.

Annual; stems moderately to densely hairy, procumbent, not rooting at nodes. Lvs moderately to densely hairy especially on petioles and undersurface of leaflets; petioles c. 10–50–(200) mm long; leaflets broadly obovate, emarginate to obcordate or rarely obtuse at apex, obtuse at base, ± entire or very finely serrate toward apex, often with dark markings, c. 5–15 mm long; lateral veins thin and straight or somewhat recurved to leaflet margin; petiolules c. 1–1.5 mm long, ± equal; stipules ovate, acute. Infls axillary, umbellate, pedunculate, usually ± = subtending lf; fertile fls 2–5–(7), subsessile; sterile inner fls developing after anthesis; bracts 0. Calyx tube glabrous, with indistinct veins, somewhat inflated on all sides at fruiting; throat open, hairy; calyx teeth hairy, subequal, < corolla, linear, < tube, curled at fruiting; sinuses acute. Corolla white or occasionally pink, deciduous, 10–15 mm long. Calyx of sterile fls enlarged and recurved at fruiting enclosing the recurved young pods; infructescence appressed to or buried in soil by elongated peduncle. Pod glabrous, ± straight, < calyx, 2–3 mm long, 1-seeded; seeds c. 2 mm diam.

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

Flowering: Sep.–Feb.