Fabaceae, the pea, bean, or legume family.
Description:
Plant:
Sprawling, branching, plant, stems to 12" or more, with three-part leaves and
small heads of tiny yellow, pea-like flowers. Annual.
Flowers:
Tiny, yellow, pea-like, in dense heads about 1/2" long.
Leaves:
Alternate, compound, with three small leaflets, about 1/2",
obovate, with inset tooth at tip, and covered with downy hairs.
Terminal leaflet with short stalk.
Fruit:
Tiny, spiral-coiled pods on head.
Blooming:
May-October
Habitat:
Fields, lawns, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
Comments:
A European import, this plant is very similar to the hop clovers,
distinguished by slightly smaller flowers, and the tiny spiral-shaped pods.
Often considered a weed in lawns.
Alfalfa (M. sativa) is in the same genus.
Where to find it:
Common in the park lawns.