Trifolium alexandrinum, 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 : 171

88. T. alexandrinum L. , Cent. Pl. 1: 25 (1755).

Annual; stems 40-70 cm, erect, branching, sparsely appressed-hairy. Leaflets 15-25 x 5-10 mm, oblong or lanceolate; free part of the stipules subulate, marginal hairs of the upper ones dilated at the base. Heads 15-20(-25) mm, ovoid or oblong-conical; peduncles up to 30 mm. Calyx hairy; tube obconical; teeth unequal, triangularsubulate, spinescent, the lowest 3-veined, at least at the base, about as long as the tube, others shorter, 1-veined. Corolla 8-10 mm, cream, about twice as long as the calyx. Apex of the mature legume slightly exserted, not concealed by the ring of hairs in the calyx-throat, which is devoid of a bilabiate callosity. Widely cultivated in the warmer parts o f Europe and locally naturalized. [Au Bu He Hs Hu Lu.]

Long cultivated in N.E. Africa, possibly native in the E. Mediterranean region. Plants from S.E. Europe appear to belong to T. constantinopolitanum (vide 90) which is sometimes identified with T. alexandrinum var. phleoides (Boiss.) Boiss.