non-native
photo taken late may
a small clover variety native to europe and considered invasive in three states (alaska, oregon, and north carolina, which strikes me as an odd assortment! they're so far away from each other!). lesser/small hop clover, also called "suckling clover" (?!), yellow shamrock, grows in full sun and hates the shade. it's a lawn weed and very easy to miss if you're not looking too closely - it grows very low, staying lower and smaller than regular white clover. its tiny flowers turn brown at the end of the blooming season.
it seems that this variety of clover is not as common as others, or at least not as well-known; it doesn't have its own entry in the audubon guide i have, nor is it in the umass weed herbarium that i often peruse. intriguing.
i'm not sure how it got its funny name - dubium! what's doubtful about it?
lesser hop clover blooms from late spring and into the early fall.