Trifolium campestre, commonly known as hop trefoil,[1] field clover[2] and low hop clover, is a species of flowering plant native to Europe and western Asia, growing in dry, sandy grassland habitats, fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land. The species name campestre means "of the fields".
| Hop Trefoil | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Trifolium |
| Species: | T. campestre
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| Binomial name | |
| Trifolium campestre | |
Description
editIt 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, enclosing the fruit, a one-seeded pod. 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
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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.
Similar plants
editHop trefoil, Trifolium campestre, may be confused with other plants that have three leaflets and small yellow flowers, such as large hop trefoil (T. aureum), lesser hop trefoil (T. dubium), black medick (Medicago lupulina), and yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta).
References
edit- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Trifolium campestre". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- Ajilvsgi, Geyata. (2003). Wildflowers of Texas. Shearer Publishing, Fredericksburg, Texas. ISBN 0-940672-73-1.
External links
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Media related to Trifolium campestre at Wikimedia Commons
- Washington Burke Museum
- Jepson Manual Treatment
- Illinois Wildflowers
- Discover Life: Trifolium campestre
- Purdue New Crops: Hop clovers
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