Trifolium medium, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 169-170

74. T. medium L. , Amoen. Acad. 4: 105 (1759).

Rhizomatous. Stems (10-)30-45(-65) cm, ascending, more or less flexuous, often branched, sparsely appressed-hairy or glabrescent, rarely with spreading hairs above. Leaflets 20-60 x (5-)9-20(-35) mm, ovate, obovate or elliptical, almost entire, petioles usually exceeding the stipules. Stipules lanceolate, herbaceous and ciliate above, usually adnate by less than half their length to the petioles. Heads 25-35 mm, globose or ovoid, usually solitary, ultimately shortly pedunculate. Calyx-tube glabrous or glabrescent, rarely with sparse spreading hairs above, 10(-20)-veined; teeth filiform. Corolla 12-20 mm, light purple-red. Legume dehiscing longitudinally. 2n=c. 70, 78-80, 84. In open woodland, scrub and poor pastures. Throughout Europe except the extreme north and south. All except Az BI Cr Fa Is Sa Sb Si.

Rather variable in C. & S. Europe; intermediates occur between the subspecies which do not accommodate some plants from S. Europe.

1 Calyx-tube 13- to 20-veined (c) subsp. sarosiense 1 Calyx-tube 10(-14)-veined

2Stems with spreading hairs above (d) subsp. balcanicum 2 Stemsappressed-hairyorglabrescent above

3 Upper4 calyx-teethnotlongerthanthetube

(a) subsp. medium 3 Upper4 calyx-teethlongerthanthetube (b) subsp.banaticum