Species

Trifolium medium

Common Name(s)

zigzag clover

Authority

Trifolium medium L.

Family

Fabaceae

Brief Description

Rhizomatous perennial, stems straggling to ascending, branching at regular intervals ('zigzag'), hairy. Leaves hairy below, glabrous above, leaflets lacking the crescent markings typical of T. pratense; more narrow than in T. pratense. Flower heads stalked; calyx teeth unequal, linear.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Distribution

'Waikato, Molesworth, Oamaru. Rare casual of waste places and cultivated land, formerly more widespread" (Webb et al. 1988). Bushy Park near Wanganui 2014.

Habitat

Old pasture, waste places, cultivated land.

Similar Taxa

Red clover, Trifolium pratense. Some differences noted in the description above.

Flower Colours

Red / Pink

Year Naturalised

1870

Origin

Europe, Asia Minor, S. Russia

References and further reading

Webb, CJ; Sykes, WR; Garnock-Jones,PJ 1988. Flora of NZ Vol.4.

This page last updated on 5 Mar 2015