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

The stem of the plant is bushy and branched; the leaves are trifoliate.

From Project Gutenberg

Latin prefixes denote the number of leaves, as bifoliate, trifoliate, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

From the base are pushed up long wand-like arching shoots to a height of 6 feet, clothed with trifoliate leaves, and bearing large terminal panicles of pea-shaped blossoms.

From Project Gutenberg

Shrubs with opposite trifoliate leaves and small axillary clusters of white flowers in spring; sepals, petals, and stamens each 5; ovary 3-celled, ripening into a large inflated 3-celled pod.

From Project Gutenberg