Trifolium siskiyouense
Siskiyou clover
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Trifolium siskiyouense (Siskiyou clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: Klamath endemic, thickened fusiform roots.
Siskiyou clover is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in wet mountain meadows at elevations of 800 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces delicate white to cream-colored flowers in compact heads 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing with slender erect to ascending stems, it develops thickened fusiform roots with no rhizome. Its leaves feature three leaflets 0.8 to 3 centimeters long, elliptic to oblanceolate in shape, with lanceolate stipules that have acuminate tips. Its flowers have a calyx 6 to 7 millimeters long with nearly equal lobes and a white-cream corolla 7 to 12 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species. Key features: Klamath endemic, thickened fusiform roots
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet mountain meadows
Elevation: 800-1400 m
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Trifolium siskiyouense blooms Jun-Jul.
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 siskiyouense native to California?
Yes. Trifolium siskiyouense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium siskiyouense bloom?
Trifolium siskiyouense blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Trifolium siskiyouense belong to?
Trifolium siskiyouense is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
Is Trifolium siskiyouense rare or endangered?
Trifolium siskiyouense carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank SH.
What habitat does Trifolium siskiyouense grow in?
Trifolium siskiyouense grows in Wet mountain meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.