Trifolium vesiculosum, Savi

26. T. vesiculosum Savi View in CoL , FI. Pis. 2: 165 (1798).

Stems (5-)15-50(-70) cm, rigid. Leaflets (5-)15-30(-60) mm, almost coriaceous, those of the lower leaves obovate, of the upper usually oblong, elliptical or lanceolate, rarely obovate-elliptical or suborbicular-cuneate, long-apiculate, spinulose-denAcuiate; stipules with long setaceous apices. Heads 20-60 x 20-35 mm, globose, ovoid or oblong; peduncles 10-50 mm; bracts about as long as the calyx-tube. Calyx-tube turbinate and contracted at the mouth, or broadly cylindrical to ovoid, with 24-35 prominent longitudinal veins connected by numerous more or less evident transverse veins; teeth as long as or a little shorter than the tube. Corolla white, becoming pink; standard l |- 2 times as long as the calyx. Legume 2- to 3-seeded. Dry, grassy places. S. Europe from Corse eastwards, extending northwards to Hungary. Al Bu Co Cr G r Hu It Ju Rm Rs (W, K, E) Tu [Ga]. Very variable in habit, size of the parts, shape of the calyxtube and degree of development of the transverse veins of the calyx-tube. Some plants from the Balkan peninsula, Calabria and Sicilia, with cylindrical or ovoid calyx-tube with indistinct transverse veins have been separated as T. multistriatum Koch , Syn. FI. Germ. ed. 2, 190 (1843) ( T. setiferum Boiss. , T. rumelicum (Griseb.) Halâcsy ), but they do not appear to be specifically distinct.