Trifolium simense Fresen.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Afromontane grassland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

Leguminosae, various authors. Flora Zambesiaca 3:7. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb.

Morphology Roots

Roots with elongated nodules.

Morphology Stem

Stems up to 50 cm, erect or sometimes semi-decumbent but not rooting at the nodes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; leaflets glabrous or sparsely pilose, those of the lower leaves c. 1 cm long, narrowly cuneate-oblong, those of the upper leaves up to 6 cm long, linear-lanceolate, with well-marked, subulate teeth on the margins, the lateral nerves many on each side, at 5–15º to the midrib; petioles 1–3 cm long, adnate to the stem-sheathing stipules for all their length; stipules ending in bristly points, glabrous but pilose at the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence hemispherical or ovoid, c. 13 mm in diameter; peduncle up to 5 cm long, pilose, especially at the top; bracts up to 1 mm long, white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers with pedicels c. 1 mm long, erect in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx whitish, glabrous or sparsely pilose; tube c. 2 mm long, 17–20-nerved; teeth 2–3 mm long, subulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla nearly twice as long as the calyx, pink-purple, rarely white; standard c. 6 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-ovulate, glabrous; style 2.5 mm long, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 1–2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 1.3 × 1 mm, ovoid, pale brown.

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

Straggling perennial herb up to 11/2 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Purple flowers

Ecology

In mountain grassland.

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Perennial or perhaps, rarely, annual herb; some of the roots often rather thick and fleshy; stems erect, or sometimes procumbent at the base, but not rooting at the nodes, usually glabrous, sometimes pilose above, up to 60 cm. tall.

Morphology Leaves

Stipules 1–4 cm. long, glabrous or pilose at the margins, always with some hairs at base of petiolules, the free part much shorter than the sheath, except sometimes when the bristly tip is much elongated; leaflets narrowly cuneate-oblong, oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 1–6 cm. long, up to 3 mm. wide, glabrous or sparsely pilose, with well-marked subulate teeth, at any rate near the tip; lateral nerves many, at 5–15° to the midrib.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences hemispherical or ovoid, ± 15 mm. across; peduncle up to 5 cm. long, pilose, especially at the top; bracts white, up to 1 mm. long, the outer ones often notched; pedicels ± 1 mm. long, erect in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx whitish, pilose at the margins only; tube ± 2 mm. long, 17–20-nerved; teeth subulate, 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla reddish-purple, rarely white; standard 6–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary usually glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1–2, pale brown, oval, ± 1·3 by 1 mm.

Figures

Fig. 143.

Habitat

Upland grassland; 1500–3100 m.; rainfall 1000–1100 mm.

Distribution

K2 K3 K5 T2 T4 T7 U1