Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum
Grant's carpet clover, Grant's Carpet Clover
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum (Grant's carpet clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: mat-forming, narrow leaflets, bent peduncles.
Grant's carpet clover is a California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and San Jacinto Mountains in mountain forest near streams at elevations of 1,700 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this clover produces white to pale pink flowers in small clusters of 1 to 5 blooms. Growing as a low, mat-forming plant with thin white rhizomes, it spreads close to the ground with delicate stems. Its leaves have three leaflets, each approximately 4 to 6 times longer than wide with acute tips, creating a compact green carpet. The plant's glabrous to slightly hairy surface and thin roots contribute to its distinctive ground-hugging growth habit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species. Key features: mat-forming, narrow leaflets, bent peduncles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Mountain forest near streams
Elevation: 1700-3000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Fresno, Riverside, Ventura, Tulare, Orange
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum blooms Jun-Aug.
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 monanthum subsp. grantianum native to California?
Yes. Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum bloom?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum grow?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Fresno, Riverside, Ventura, Tulare, Orange, at elevations of 1700-3000 m.
What plant family does Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum belong to?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum grow in?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. grantianum grows in Mountain forest near streams.
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.