SPECIES DESCRIPTION
TRIFOLIUM CHERLERI
Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Subgen. TRIFOLIUM/Sect.
Common Names:- Hairy trefoil
Homotypic Synonyms:- Trifolium hirtum subsp. cherleri.
Meaning:- Trifolium (L) With three leaflets.
Cherleri (L) For T. H. Cherler (1570 - 1810) Swiss physician.
General description:- Short, erect to spreading, hairy annual.
Stems:-
1) 5-15(-25) cm, usually branched from base,± patent-pilose throughout.
Leaves:-
1) Leaflets, 8-20 mm, obcordate-cuneate, almost entire, denticulate above, rarely
emarginate.
2) Stipules, with a short, ovate-lanceolate, herbaceous and often recurved apex,
with patent hairs.
Flowers:-
1) Heads, 15-20(-25) mm, hemispherical, abscissing below the involucre in fruit,
densely hairy, globose, solitary, sessile. with an involucre formed of dilated
stipules and one or sometimes two 3-foliolate leaves.
2) Calyx, 20-veined, the veins obscured by dense hairs,
a) teeth, more or less equalling the tube.
3) Corolla, 12-15 mm, pinkish-white, equalling or shorter than the calyx.
Key features:-
1) Free part of the stipules (except of the uppermost leaves) short, ovate-lanceolate,
often recurved.
2) Corolla, not exceeding the calyx.
Habitat:- Sandy and gravelly coastal habitats, dry open shrubby vegetation, fallow
fields, olive groves, open woodland. 0-800 m. (occasionally to 1100 m.).
Distribution:- Thoughout Greece. - Widespread in the Mediterranean region and
SW Asia aestwards at least to Iran. Limited distribution on Crete, mainly in the
west, but with few locations in the east.
Flowering time:- Apr to early June.
Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel
