Trifolium L.

Annual to perennial, procumbent to erect herbs. Lvs palmately or pinnately 3-foliolate (rarely 5–9-foliolate, but not in N.Z. spp.); principal lateral veins terminating at leaflet margin often in a tooth; stipules adnate to petiole. Infls axillary or terminal, racemose, umbellate, or spicate, few- to many-flowered (if many-flowered then fls usually forming dense heads); bracts present, 0, or reduced to glandular hairs. Calyx teeth 5, usually subequal or the lower longer. Corolla usually persistent after flowering. Vexillary filament free, the others united into a sheath split adaxially; anthers uniform. Style glabrous; stigma capitate or hooked. Pod 2-valved, ± straight, usually indehiscent, very rarely dehiscent, not armed, 1–2–(10)-seeded; seeds estrophiolate, smooth and rounded.

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