Pinpoint clover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pinpoint clover |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Trifolium
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| Species: |
gracilentum
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Trifolium gracilentum, also known as pinpoint clover or slender clover, is a type of clover plant. It grows in many parts of western North America. This includes the western United States and northwestern Mexico. Pinpoint clover is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle in one year.
Contents
About Pinpoint Clover
Where Pinpoint Clover Lives
Pinpoint clover is found in western North America. You can see it along the west coast of the United States. It also grows in northwestern Mexico. This plant likes many different kinds of places. It can even grow in areas that have been disturbed, like roadsides.
What Pinpoint Clover Looks Like
This clover is an annual herb. It can grow flat on the ground or stand upright. Its stems are usually smooth or slightly hairy. The leaves are made of small leaflets. These leaflets can be shaped like a spear or an oval. The flowers grow in a cluster called an umbel. An umbel is like an umbrella shape. The flowers are pink or purple. Each flower is less than a centimeter long.
A Special Type of Pinpoint Clover
There is a special type of pinpoint clover called Trifolium gracilentum var. palmeri. This variety is quite rare. It only grows on the Channel Islands of California. Sometimes, scientists even consider this variety to be its own separate species. They might call it Trifolium palmeri.
Different Varieties
Scientists sometimes group plants into different varieties. This helps them understand small differences within a species. Trifolium gracilentum used to be divided into two main varieties:
- Trifolium gracilentum var. gracilentum
- Trifolium gracilentum var. palmeri
