Trifolium trichocalyx

Monterey clover

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Monterey clover is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in western central North Coast Ranges in Mendocino County and on the Monterey Peninsula in open closed-cone pine woodland and roadsides at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers in compact heads 4 to 14 millimeters wide. Growing with spreading stems and a sparse hairiness that becomes nearly smooth with age, it develops delicate branching structures. Its leaves have three leaflets, each 5 to 10 millimeters long, ranging from oblanceolate to obovate with toothed or lobed stipules. The plant's calyx is notably hairy, with lobes longer than the tube and featuring distinctive bristle-tipped ends.

Habitat: Open closed-cone pine woodland, roadsides

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: w-c NCoRO (Mendocino Co.), CCo (Monterey Peninsula).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.