[Clovers: The Genus Trifolium East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]
Hare's Foot, Rabbitfoot Clover, Rabbit-foot Clover
Trifolium arvense
Synonyms: Trifolium arvense var. arvense, Trifolium arvense var. perpusillum
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These photos show close-ups of the inflorescence and stem leaves of rabbit-foot clover as seen on Missoula Flood sandbars between Five Mile and the Little Spokane River, Spokane County, WA............
July4, 2018.
Photo
at right illustrates a stem leaf of rabbit-foot clover.............late May 2001.
Characteristics:
Rabbit-foot clover is an erect annual with soft, hairy herbage.
One to several branched stems arise from 10-40 cm high. The leaves are compound
ternate (3 leaflets) with individual leaflets ranging from 8-25 mm long and
linear-oblanceolate in shape.
The flower heads range from 5-25 mm long and 10-13 mm wide (See
above photo.) and contain many flowers. The flowers measure 5-6 mm long with
white or pale pink corollas. The teeth of the calyx are about twice as long
as the tube. The fruit is a one-seeded legume.
Habitat:
Rabbit-foot clover may be found along roadsides, in waste areas,
and other disturbed places.
Range:
Rabbit-foot clover is a weedy species introduced from Europe.
It may be found in North America in the eastern portion of the continent. In
the west it may be found west of the Cascade Mts. from British Columbia south
to Oregon.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations
of 100'-700' between Troutdale, OR in the west and Doug's Beach in the east.
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These photos show close-ups of the inflorescence and stem leaves of rabbit-foot clover as seen at Catherine Creek in the central Columbia River Gorge........July 7, 2006.
The photo above shows close-ups of the inflorescence and stem leaves of rabbit-foot clover as seen at the Elowah Falls trailhead in the western Columbia River Gorge........May 30, 2009. Note the attractive appearance of the long, feathery calyx lobes.
Paul Slichter