Trifolium bifidum
Pinole clover, Pinole Clover
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium bifidum (Pinole clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Pinole clover is a California native annual herb found in open, grassy areas, oak chaparral, and forest habitats at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this clover produces dull yellow to pink-purple flowers in compact heads 7 to 15 millimeters wide. Growing with sprawling to erect stems, it develops delicate leaflets 1 to 2 centimeters long that are oblanceolate to obovate with distinctively notched tips. Its leaves feature short-awned stipules, and the plant remains glabrous or sparsely finely hairy. As flowers mature, they become reflexed, creating an interesting architectural display in grassland environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, grassy areas, oak chaparral, forest
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Lake, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Butte, Monterey, Santa Clara, Humboldt, Yolo, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Colusa, Del Norte, Trinity, Shasta, El Dorado, San Diego, Amador, Nevada, Placer, Santa Barbara, Sacramento
Outside California: to southern Washington
Bloom period
Trifolium bifidum blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Medicago: Trifolium flowers persist around fruits; Medicago flowers fall off leaving exposed coiled fruits.; vs Oxalis: Trifolium has pea-shaped flowers; wood-sorrels (Oxalis) have 5-petaled star-shaped flowers and heart-notched leaflets.; vs Melilotus: Trifolium flowers persist enclosing fruits; Melilotus flowers fall off leaving exposed ridged pods.; vs Castilleja: Trifolium has pea flowers and 3 toothed leaflets; paintbrush (Castilleja) has tubular flowers in colorful bracts.; vs Acmispon: Trifolium leaflets have toothed edges; Acmispon leaflets have smooth untoothed margins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trifolium bifidum native to California?
Yes. Trifolium bifidum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium bifidum bloom?
Trifolium bifidum blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Trifolium bifidum grow?
Trifolium bifidum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Lake, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Trifolium bifidum belong to?
Trifolium bifidum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium bifidum grow in?
Trifolium bifidum grows in Open, grassy areas, oak chaparral, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.