Flora of New Zealand Series

rose clover

Annual; stems densely hairy, erect, not rooting at nodes. Lvs moderately to densely hairy; petioles 5-15-(100) mm long; leaflets obovate, cuneate at base, obtuse and shortly mucronate, finely serrate, 8-25-(30) mm long; lateral veins thin and straight to leaflet margin; petiolules c. 1 mm long, ± equal; stipules ovate, acuminate. Infls terminal, spicate, globose to shortly cylindric, sessile, ± = or > subtending lvs; fls numerous, sessile; bracts 0. Calyx densely sericeous, with 20 veins obscured by hairs, not inflated at fruiting; throat somewhat constricted by dense hairs; calyx teeth subequal (the lower slightly longer), < corolla, shortly triangular with linear apex, much > tube, ± erect at fruiting; sinuses obtuse. Corolla pale or deep pink to purplish, deciduous, 12-17 mm long. Pod glabrous, straight, < calyx, 2.5-3 mm long, 1-seeded; seeds c. 2 mm long.

N.: known from one site only, roadside in Bay View, Hawke's Bay.

S. Europe, Mediterranean, Caucasia 1981

FL Oct-Dec.