Trifolium physodes, Steven ex Bieb.

28. T. physodes Steven ex Bieb. View in CoL , 77. Taur.-Cauc. 2: 217 (1808).

Glabrous perennial; stems 5-25 cm, procumbent or ascending, not rooting at the nodes. Leaflets 10-20(-25) mm, ovate or elliptical to obovate-orbicular; stipules lanceolate, aristate. Heads 15-20 mm wide, globose or ovoid; peduncles 10-80 mm. Bracts 0-5-1 mm, free, shorter than or equalling the pedicels. Upper lip of the calyx hairy, its teeth lanceolate, porrect; lower calyx-teeth subulate, straight, somewhat longer than the tube; corolla 8-14 mm, pink. Balkan peninsula, S. Italy, Sicilia; Portugal. Al Cr Gr It Ju Lu Si Tu. T. rechingeri Rothm. , Bot. Jahrb. 73: 438 (1944) ( T. physodes var. sericocalyx Gibelli & Belli ) and T. sclerorrhizum Boiss. , Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 2(9): 28 (1849) (T. physodes var. psilocalyx Boiss. ), both from Kriti, may merit subspecific rank. The former has obovate leaflets; hairy stems, petioles, stipules and bracts; smaller heads and calyx entirely densely villous-lanate; the latter has the calyx completely glabrous or with a few scattered hairs.