Trifolium jokerstii
Butte county golden clover, Butte County Golden Clover
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Trifolium jokerstii (Butte county golden clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by yellow flowers and restricted vernal pool habitat.
Butte county golden clover is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the North Table Mountain Plateau in Butte County vernal pools at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces gold- to sulphur-yellow flowers in heads 12 to 30 millimeters wide with distinctive white to purple chevron markings on its leaflets. Growing with decumbent to erect stems, it forms delicate annual clusters with conspicuous lanceolate stipules. Its leaves have three leaflets 0.5 to 3.2 centimeters long, elliptic to obovate, each marked with a prominent chevron pattern. The plant's calyx has simple lobes with plumose bristles 3 to 4.5 millimeters long, giving the flower a distinctive feathery appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; yellow flowers and restricted vernal pool habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pool
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Butte
Bloom period
Trifolium jokerstii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 jokerstii native to California?
Yes. Trifolium jokerstii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium jokerstii bloom?
Trifolium jokerstii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Trifolium jokerstii grow?
Trifolium jokerstii occurs in Butte, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Trifolium jokerstii belong to?
Trifolium jokerstii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
Is Trifolium jokerstii rare or endangered?
Trifolium jokerstii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.