Macrae’s Clover (Trifolium dichotomum)

Resources

• BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer Entry
• Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team Factsheet
• Biodiversity Galiano iNaturalist Observations

Status

• BC: Red – S2 (2021)
• COSEWIC: Not Ranked
• SARA: Not Ranked
• Global: Apparently Secure (2002)
• Galiano Island Status: Confirmed

Description

Hairy annual clover from a taproot, with dense purple inflorescences of flowers that lack an involucre and have white-pink tips.

Habitat

Branched Indian clover occurs on open, grassy bluffs or banks above the sea. The sites are mesic to dry, steep, south facing slopes. Soils are shallow, sandy or gravelly, on talus or shale.

Range

Grows along the Pacific coast from southwestern British Columbia south to southern California.  There are only a handful of occurrences in the Salish Sea of British Columbia.

Threats

Development has destroyed much of the suitable habitat for branched Indian clover, especially since oceanfront is highly desirable for residential sites. Most of the remaining populations occur on private land and may be threatened by road building and construction.  Introduced species and recreational impacts also threaten this species.

Galiano Status

Populations have been documented on Mount Galiano and Collinson Point Provincial Park.