Spreading by creeping, rooting stems reaching 2 feet long, this mat-forming lawn weed from Europe has conquered the yards and roadsides of America. It is planted as a prime honey source for domestic bees, as a pasture crop for forage, and a covercrop to restore soil nitrogen in depleted farmland. Note the round cluster of small, white, pea-like flowers, and the compound palmate (leaflets spread like fingers on a palm) leaves with three leaflets, four if you’re lucky.

FLOWER: June–September. Spherical, many-flowered heads 1 inch diameter (25 mm) grow on stems (peduncles) 4–10 inches long (10–25 cm); each flower, 1/4–7/16 inch long (6–11 mm), has a small upper banner petal, 2 side petals and 2 center petals together shaped like a keel.

LEAVES: Alternate or clustered with 2–8 inch long (5–20 cm) stems (petioles); leaf palmate with 3 oval to elliptic leaflets 3/8–3/4 inch long (1–2 cm).

HABITAT: Damp soils of lawns, roadsides, fields, meadows, disturbed areas; widespread across many habitat types.

ELEVATION: 3,500–10,000 feet.

RANGE: Widespread and naturalized in every state.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The three palmate leaflets and white flower head distinguish this species.

NM COUNTIES: Widespread in NM, expected in all counties.