Trifolium willdenovii, Tomcat Clover

Tomcat Clover flowers are purple and purple pink. The flowering stem has head-like glowers, small but showy. Trifolium willdenovii

Tomcat Clover has green compound leaves withy mostly linear and toothed leaflets. The stems are erect or spreading. They are more slender and smaller in southern areas. Trifolium willdenovii

Tomcat Clover is found in the west, primarily the coastal states and in AZ, CA, ID, OR, TX, WA and British Columbia, Canada. They are also native to Baja California, Mexico and south to South America. Trifolium willdenovii

Tomcat Clover blooms from April to June, earlier (April) in the southern part of the state, May to June in California. Also called Sand Clover, this species prefers disturbed areas with moisture, heavy soils. Trifolium willdenovii

Scientific Name: Trifolium willdenovii
Common Name: Tomcat Clover

Also Called: Sand Clover, Springbank Clover

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae Family

Synonyms: (Trifolium tridentatum, Trifolium tridentatum var. aciculare, Trifolium tridentatum var. clivorum, Trifolium tridentatum var. tridentatum, Trifolium willdenowii)

Status: Native

Duration: Annual

Size: Up to 8 inches (20 cm) more or less.

Growth Form: Forb/herb; stems erect, or spreading, more slender and smaller in southern areas, more robust in northern climates with increased moisture, glabrous.

Leaves: Green; compound, leaflets mostly linear, toothed.

Flower Color: Purple, purple-pink; inflorescence head-like flowers, small but showy, fruit a legume, 1 or 2 seeds.

Flowering Season: April to June, blooms earlier (April) in the southern part of the state, May to June in California.

Elevation: Below 5,000 feet (1,524 m)

Habitat Preferences: More common in northern elevations, disturbed areas with moisture, heavy soils.

Recorded Range: In North America, Tomcat Clover is found in the west, primarily the coastal states and in Arizona and Idaho; AZ, CA, ID, OR, TX, WA and British Columbia, Canada. In Arizona it is found in the central and southern parts of the state. They are also native to Baja California, Mexico and south to South America.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Trifolium willdenovii.

North America species range map for Tomcat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii:

Click image for full size map.

U.S. Weed Information: Unknown
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: Unknown
Threatened/Endangered Information: Unknown

U.S. Wetland Indicator: In North America Trifolium wildenovii has the following wetland designations:

Arid West, FACW

Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast, FACU;

FACW = Facultative Wetland, usually occur in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands
FACU = Facultative Upland, usually occur in non-wetlands, but may occur in wetlands

Genus Information: In North America there are 116 species for Trifolium. Worldwide, World Flora Online includes 367 accepted species name for the genus.

The genus Trifolium was published in 1753 Carl Linnaeus, (1707-1778).

In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 20 species of Trifolium genus, California has 51 species, Nevada has 22 species, New Mexico has 19 species, Texas has 16 species, Utah has 18 species. All data approximate and subject to revision.

Comments: The photo above was taken April 06, 2011 (about 3,500 feet (1066 m)) near Sycamore Creek west of Mount Ord, Tonto National Forest, Arizona.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see Pinpoint Clover, Trifolium gracilentum.

Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock Tomcat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii has attractive fragrant flowers, the flowers and their seeds may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of nectar or food.

Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects Tomcat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited or used by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, native bees and other insects in search of nectar, food or shelter and protection.

daisy-like flowers, showy flowers

Tomcat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, Native Bees and other insects in search of food and nectar.

According to the Encyclopedia of Live, Tomcat Clover is a host plant for the butterflies listed below.

Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus

Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme

Find out more here from Butterflies and Moths of North America.

****Special Value to Native Bees**** According to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Tomcat Clover, Trifolium willdenovii, is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of Native bees. Click here for more information on their Pollinator Conservation Program.

Etymology: The genus “Trifolium” is derived from the Latin meaning "three-leaved".

The genus Trifolium was published in 1753 Carl Linnaeus, (1707-1778).
The species epithet willdenovii is named in honor of Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765-1812) eminent German botanist and taxonomist.

The taxon “Trifolium willdenovii” was described in 1826 by Curt (Kurt, Curtius) Sprengel, Polycarp Joachim (1766-1833).

Ethnobotany Unknown