S I [ 1050 ]
T R I F O L I U M fragiferum.
Strawberry-headed Trefoil.
DIADELPH1A Decandria.
G e n . C h a r . Flowers m o re o r lefs c a p ita te . Pod
fc a rc e ly lo n g e r th a n th e c a ly x , n e v e r b u r f tin g , b u t
fa llin g o f f e n tir e .
S p e c . C h a r . Heads roundifh. Calyx inflated, reflexed,
with two prominent teeth. Stem creeping.
S y n . Trifolium fragiferum. Linn. Sp. PI. 1086.
Sm. FI. Brit. 791. Hudf. 328. With. 654.
Hull. 164. Relh. 283. Sibth. 230. Abbot. 163.
Curt. Lond. fafc. 2. t. 55. Dick/. H. Sicc. fafc.
4. 11. Raii Syn. 329.
N o t rare in moift paftures, or on wet heaths, efpeeially in
the black boggy foil of ofier holts, and by river tides, flowering in
July and Auguft; but the herbage being very like the common
T. repens may occafion it to pafs frequently undiftinguithed.
When, as the fruit ripens, the fwelling calyces aflume their
ftrawberry-like appearance, no one can help being tlruck with
their beauty and Angularity.
Root perennial, tapering, befet with flethy knobs. Stems
proftrate, leafy, throwing out fibrous roots,' and often creeping
very far. Leaves on long ftalks ; leaflets obovate or obcordate,
tharply toothed, ribbed, dark green. Stipulae lanceolate, large
and acute. Flower-ftalks much longer than the leaves, ercft,
ftrong. Heads fmall, roundith. Petals rofe-coloured, far
more flender and fmall than thofe of T. repens. Calyx downy,
membranous, its 2 upper teeth much longer than the reft,
and thefe remain prominent when the calyx becomes deflexed,
greatly inflated in the upper flde, veiny, and tinged with
crimfon. In that ftate it conceals within its bafe the fmall
two-feeded pod.
This Trefoil is eaten by cattle, but is not recommended for
culture, as its produce is late and not conflderable.