trifoliate

American  

[trahy-foh-lee-it, -eyt] / traɪˈfoʊ li ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

Sometimes trifoliated

adjective

1. having three leaflets, lobes, or foils; trefoil.

2. Botany. trifoliolate.

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trifoliate British  

/ traɪˈfəʊlɪɪt, -ˌeɪt /

adjective

1. having three leaves, leaflike parts, or (of a compound leaf) leaflets

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Etymology

Origin of trifoliate

First recorded in 1690–1700; tri- + foliate

Example Sentences

The researchers posit that true Citrus species, such as mandarins and trifoliate oranges, first evolved in south-central China around eight million years ago.

From Scientific American • Oct. 11, 2023

In the large genus Desmodium by far the greater number of the species are trifoliate; but some are unifoliate, and even the same plant may bear uni- and trifoliate leaves.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

Some day we may have good trifoliate orange hybrids in Connecticut if the Buckley hickory, Stuart pecan, Arizona walnut and imbricated pine grow here.

From Northern Nut Growers Association, report of the proceedings at the eighth annual meeting Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 by Northern Nut Growers Association

With Ph. caracalla and Hernandesii, the primary unifoliate leaves and the leaflets of the secondary trifoliate leaves sink vertically down at night.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

The trifoliate leaves are numerous, especially on the upper portions.

From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Shaw, Thomas