Trifolium polyodon
Pacific grove clover
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Trifolium polyodon (Pacific grove clover) is a native California annual in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: Monterey Peninsula endemic, closed-cone pine habitat.
Pacific grove clover is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in the Monterey Peninsula in closed-cone pine forest and moist meadows at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink to white flowers with purple tips in compact head-like clusters 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters wide. Growing with decumbent-ascending stems, it reaches a low-spreading form with glabrous green foliage. Its leaves feature distinctive stipules up to one centimeter long and widely ovate, with leaflets 5 to 20 millimeters long that are widely elliptic to obovate with rounded tips. The flower's delicate calyx is 4 to 7 millimeters long, with an intricate wheel-shaped involucre cut to its middle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species. Key features: Monterey Peninsula endemic, closed-cone pine habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Closed-cone-pine forest; moist meadows, streamsides
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Monterey, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Mono, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Trifolium polyodon blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 polyodon native to California?
Yes. Trifolium polyodon is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium polyodon bloom?
Trifolium polyodon blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Trifolium polyodon grow?
Trifolium polyodon occurs in Monterey, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Mono, Santa Cruz, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Trifolium polyodon belong to?
Trifolium polyodon is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
Is Trifolium polyodon rare or endangered?
Trifolium polyodon carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
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 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.