Dwarf Clover Trifolium nanum Pea family (Fabaceae)
Dwarf Clover (Trifolium nanum) hugs the ground with numerous, tiny, three-parted leaves in a tight mat, but it has relatively few flowers, which are, however, large for the size of the plant and always in attractive masses. Plants might, after many years, grow to about a foot in diameter. "Nanum" is Greek for "dwarf." In 1820 Edwin James collected this plant on Pikes Peak; John Torrey, the most eminent 19th century botanist, named it in 1824.
, , about 1" tall, from a (woody base of non-woody ) and , the stems obscured by shingled and leaf bases. to almost an inch long. 3, from 1/8 to nearly 1/2" long, to , or some hairs on lower surface, folded or flat. Heads 1-4 flowered, , or on short . Flowers 2/3 to 1" long, pale purple, yellow, white. a pod with 1-4 seeds.
