Red trefoil

Trifolium rubens is a robust herbaceous perennial of the legume family growing 30-60 cm tall from a stout woody rhizome. Stems are erect, glabrous, and ribbed, bearing alternate leaves with three narrowly oblong to lanceolate leaflets 3-7 cm long, finely serrate along the margins; the conspicuous stipules are large, lanceolate, and sheath the stem. Inflorescences are dense, cylindrical spike-like heads 4-8 cm long terminating the stems, composed of numerous bright purplish-red papilionaceous flowers 12-15 mm long with persistent, hairy calyces. Fruits are small one- or two-seeded pods enclosed within the persistent calyx. The species occurs on dry calcareous grasslands, sunny forest margins, and rocky slopes across central and southern Europe. Flowering takes place from June to August.