White Clover.Trifolium repens.
Found in chief profusion in June—though continuing to flower through the summer,—amidst grass, along the roadsides, and occasionally in woodland glades.
The creeping stalk sends up its erect leaf and flower-stems (of 3 to 6 inches height) in great profusion. It is green and pale.
The leaf is compound; the 3 leaflets are oval, slightly notched, or heart-shaped, with obscurely toothed margins; of fine texture, and smooth surface. In color it is a rather dark, cool green, sometimes faintly marked with a triangular band of lighter color on each leaflet.
The upper and larger petal of the little flower is slightly turned back; the color of the corolla is white, the small 5-parted calyx being green. The flowers, on their very tiny foot-stems, are gathered in a close, round head, which is set on a slender, light green stem that springs from the stalk.
As the flowers mature they turn downwards from the head: the trefoil leaf is of especial elegance in shape and color. Roadsides and lawns thickly strewn with these pretty Clover heads, sweeten the air with the wholesome grass-like fragrance of their odorous flowers,—they are beloved by bees.