Trifolium alpestre, L.

79. T. alpestre L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1082 (1763).

Rhizomatous; stems (5-) 15-40 cm, erect or ascending, usually simple and hairy. Leaflets 20-50(-60) x 5-13 mm, lanceolate or narrowly elliptical, hairy or glabrous above; veins very numerous, curved. Stipules adnate by more than | their length to the petioles, often ciliate and pubescent, the free part linear or subulate, usually scarious. Heads 15-25 mm, paired or solitary, globose or ovoid, subsessile or with peduncles up to 1 cm. Calyx-teeth subulate or filiform, straight, hairy, the lowest one much longer than the others. Corolla c. 15 mm, purple, rarely pink orwhite. Legume ovoid, dehiscing longitudinally. Dry open woods, scrub and pastures. C., E. & S. Europe, northwards to Denmark and Estonia. Al Au Be Bu Cz Da Ga Ge Gr He?Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (B, C, W, K, E).

Very variable. The widespread plant has appressed hairs on the stem and a 20-veined calyx; plants from Italy and the Balkan peninsula frequently havedense, patent hairs; var. durmitoreum Rohlena from Crna Gora, has a usually 10-veined calyx, slender stems and smaller flowers.