Description
Woolly-head Clover is a perennial with erect stems that are 20-60 cm tall and arising from a thick taproot and a branched rootcrown. The leaves have three leaflets that are 2-7 cm long and elliptic to oblong with sharply toothed margins. The base of each leaf petiole is enlarged to form two lance-shaped wings, or stipules, that are 2-5 cm long. The foliage is sparsely to densely long-hairy. 25-80 flowers are borne in globose clusters at the ends of the main stem or on side branches. The pinkish to red flowers are nodding and 12-17 mm long with a hood-shaped upper petal, or banner, as well as two narrow, separate petals on the side (wings); the two lower petals are united into a boat-shaped petal, or keel. The calyx has five long teeth at the mouth and is covered with long, feather-like hairs. The fruit is a small pod with 4 ovules.
Diagnostic Characteristics
There are many clovers in Montana, and a technical key should be consulted for positive identification. This species can be distinguished from other perennial species of TRIFOLIUM occurring at lower elevations by the combination of having an erect, leafy habit, lacking a leafy involucre below the inflorescence, and by its long feathery hairs on the calyx teeth.