Common name:
Mountain carpet clover
Family:
Scientific name:
Trifolium monanthum
Main flower color:
Range:
California and Nevada
Height:
A few inches - forms dense mats
Habitat:
Coniferous forests, streambanks, wet meadows, from 5,500 to 12,000 feet
Leaves:
Trifoliate; three elliptic to oblanceolate leaflets, up to 0.5 inches long, finely-toothed, hairy or hairless
Season:
June to August
Trifolium monanthum is widespread across the Sierra Nevada and the higher mountains of southern California, and is also found in scattered ranges in Nevada. Plants are low-growing, forming dense mats. Leaves and stalks may be hairy or glabrous. Leaves are generally basal, divided into three leaflets, relatively broad, either round or pointed at the tip.
Flowers are included within the leaves or held slightly above, and are produced singly or in small clusters. Calyces are divided about half way into bristle-tipped lobes, while the corollas, about twice as long (up to 0.4 inches) are generally white, sometimes streaked with pink, except for the keel petals which are deep purple. There are four subspecies (grantianum, monanthum, parvum, tenerum), differing in hairiness and leaflet shape.
Flowers are included within the leaves or held slightly above, and are produced singly or in small clusters. Calyces are divided about half way into bristle-tipped lobes, while the corollas, about twice as long (up to 0.4 inches) are generally white, sometimes streaked with pink, except for the keel petals which are deep purple. There are four subspecies (grantianum, monanthum, parvum, tenerum), differing in hairiness and leaflet shape.
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