Trifolium

Trifolium usambarense Taub.

First published in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas, C: 208 (1895)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Nigeria to Ethiopia and S. Tropical Africa. It is an annual or perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Afromontane grassland, Somalia-Masai grasslands, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands
Morphology General Habit
Annual, Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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

Morphology General Habit
Annual herb.
Morphology Stem
Stems suberect, weak, few-branched, often rooting at the lower nodes, glabrous below, ± pilose above.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate; leaflets 6–13 × 3–7 mm, cuneate-oblanceolate, truncate or rounded at the apex, glabrous or weakly pilose at the base and on the lower surface, the lateral nerves c. 15 on each side, at c. 20º to the midrib; petioles 5–7 mm long, adnate to the stem-sheathing stipules for all their length; stipules with free parts triangular, ending in a fine subulate point.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence ± oblong, many-flowered; peduncle 3–6 cm long, pilose towards the top; bracts c. 0.5 mm long, narrow.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers with pedicels 1–2 mm long, pilose, not reflexed in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx pilose; tube c. 1.8 mm long, 11-nerved; teeth subulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla purple; standard 4–5 mm long, oblong-elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens c. 3.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 2-ovulate; style 2 mm long, persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod oblong, glabrous, usually 2-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 1.3 × 1 mm, brown.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Straggling herb up to 11/2 ft. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Purple (occasionally white) flowers
Ecology
In mountain grassland and forest margins.
[FWTA]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Uses

Use
Forage
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0