Trifolium bolanderi Gray. (Fabaceae) is a narrow endemic restricted to meadows of the central Sierra Nevada of California extending from Yosemite National Park to north of the King’s River. It occurs within a narrow elevational band from 2134 m to 2165 m. The type location is Westfall meadow in Yosemite National Park. Commonly called Bolander's clover, it is federally designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a 'species of concern'. Trifolium Bolanderi occurs on grazed forest ranges, and its sensitive categorization influences land use planning. Species Ecology--Reasons for its limited distribution were investigated. According to park and forest records (1990), there were only 20 meadows with known populations. Ratliff and Denton (1993) examined 81 sites within 32 meadows, 10 meadows of which were protected from livestock grazing. Sites having the target species were compared to those without it. In terms of plant associations, soils, hydrology, ground cover, and other micro-climatic site factors for meadows, no biological reasons were reported (Ratliff and Denton 1993). Grazing Management--A study was initiated to evaluate hypothetical response to defoliation. Clipping treatments were applied in situ, at two clipping heights, 3cm and 6 cm. Clipping treatments simulated grazing use: early season, season-long, deferred, and deferred rotation grazing. One control plot per meadow was used. Plots were circular 1/8 square meter, surrounded by a buffer, and caged from herbivore use. Pre-clipping plant height was set a priori at 8cm. Treatments continued every two weeks through the growing season and were repeated over years. Twenty-two morphological parameters are being evaluated. Above-ground responses include average stem length, growth form, leaf length and number of flowers per head. Below ground responses include number of active shoots from the crown, crown diameter and length of the tap root. Statistical analysis will employ a mixed-model ANOVA.

Key words: Fabaceae, herbivory, mountain meadow ecology, rare plants, Sierra Nevada, Trifolium bolanderi