Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens
Pale sack clover, Pale Sack Clover
no rights reserved, uploaded by Ellyne Geurts · CC0
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens (Pale sack clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by involucre bracts with scarious margins diagnostic.
Pale sack clover is a California native annual found in the Great Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and south coastal ranges in grasslands and coastal woodlands at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale flowers with an involucre of 4 to 5 bracts that have widely scarious margins with toothed tips. Growing with delicate stems that spread or sprawl close to the ground, it forms compact clusters of small flowers. Its leaves are trifoliate, typically with small leaflets arranged in a cloverlike pattern. The fruit is an oblong structure slightly longer than the flower's style, containing 2 to 5 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 39 sympatric species; involucre bracts with scarious margins diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, coastal woodland
Elevation: < 800 m
Bloom period
Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens 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 depauperatum var. amplectens native to California?
Yes. Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens bloom?
Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens belong to?
Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens grow in?
Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens grows in Grassland, coastal woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Trifolium depauperatum var. depauperatum — Dwarf sack clover
- Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum — Truncate sack clover
- Trifolium dichotomum — Branched indian clover
- Trifolium dubium — Little hop clover
- Trifolium eriocephalum subsp. eriocephalum — Hairy head clover
- Trifolium fragiferum — Strawberry clover
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.