Trifolium campestre

Hop Trefoil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Trifolium
Species: T. campestre
Binomial name
Trifolium campestre
Schreb.

Trifolium campestre, commonly known as hop trefoil,[1] field clover[2] and low hop clover, is a species of clover native to Europe and western Asia, growing in most areas, but specifically thriving on dry, sandy grassland habitats, as well as in fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land. The species name campestre means "of the fields".

Description

It is a herbaceous annual plant, growing to 10–30 cm tall, with distinctive yellow flowerheads that superficially resemble hop flowers. Each flowerhead is a cylindrical or spherical collection of 20–40 individual flowers. The flowers become brown upon aging and drying. The leaves are alternate and trifoliate, with three oblong or elliptical leaflets 4–10 mm long.

This species is very closely related to large hop trefoil (Trifolium aureum).

Cultivation and uses

A Trifolium campestre flower in Newfoundland.

Hop trefoil is an important clover in agriculture because its foliage is good for feeding livestock and replenishing soil. It is not generally planted, but is considered a valuable herb when found growing in a pasture. It has become naturalised in North America, particularly in the west and south of the continent.

References

  1. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ↑ "Trifolium campestre". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 15 December 2015.

Media related to Trifolium campestre at Wikimedia Commons

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