Trifolium hirtum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Trifolium |
Species: | T. hirtum |
Binomial name | |
Trifolium hirtum | |
Trifolium hirtum, commonly known as rose clover, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. [1] [2] It is indigenous to a range of regions spanning Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to other parts of the world where it is cultivated for various purposes.
Originally native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, Trifolium hirtum has been introduced to other regions, including North America. In the United States, it was notably introduced to California from Turkey in the 1940s, initially as a forage crop to support animal agriculture. Today, it has become a widespread roadside weed in California, sometimes considered invasive, adapting well to the local climate and soil conditions. [3] [4]
The plant is characterized as a hairy annual herb with an erect growth habit. Its leaves are trifoliate, featuring oval-shaped leaflets that measure up to 2.5 centimeters in length. Additionally, the leaves possess bristle-tipped stipules, adding to the plant's overall hairy appearance.
The inflorescence of Trifolium hirtum is a head-like cluster of flowers, approximately 1.5 centimeters in diameter. Each individual flower consists of a calyx made up of sepals with elongated, needle-like lobes. These lobes may harden and become bristle-like as the plant ages. The calyces are covered in long, fine hairs, adding to the plant's hirsute character. The flower's corolla is pink in color and measures between 1 and 1.5 centimeters in length, adding a vibrant hue to the inflorescence.
Rose clover is often cultivated as a cover crop, providing various ecological benefits such as soil stabilization and nitrogen fixation due to its leguminous nature. It is also utilized as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock like cattle and sheep. However, its widespread adoption has led it to become invasive in some areas, outcompeting native flora.
While Trifolium hirtum has benefits as a cover crop and fodder, its introduction to non-native areas has sometimes led to it becoming invasive, potentially disrupting local ecosystems and outcompeting native plant species. Therefore, management practices may be needed to control its spread in certain contexts.
Trifolium pratense, red clover, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalized in many other regions.
Trifolium arvense, commonly known as the hare's-foot clover, rabbitfoot clover, stone clover or oldfield clover, is a flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. This species of clover is native to most of Europe, excluding the Arctic zone, and western Asia, in plain or mid-mountain habitats up to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) altitude. It grows in dry sandy soils, both acidic and alkaline, soil with dry-mesic conditions and is typically found at the edge of fields, in wastelands, at the side of roads, on sand dunes, and opportunistically in vineyards and orchards when they are not irrigated.
Trifolium hybridum, the alsike clover, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. The stalked, pale pink or whitish flower head grows from the leaf axils, and the trifoliate leaves are unmarked. The plant is up to 40 centimetres (1.3 ft) tall, and is found in fields and on roadsides – it is also grown as fodder. The plant blooms from spring to autumn. Originating in mainland Europe, it has become established as an introduced plant in the British Isles and throughout the temperate regions of the world.
Trifolium albopurpureum is a species of clover known by the common name rancheria clover.
Trifolium andersonii is a species of clover known by the common names fiveleaf clover and Anderson's clover. It is native to the western United States, particularly the Great Basin and adjacent high mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada. It was named after Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.
Trifolium angustifolium is a species of clover known by the common names narrowleaf crimson clover, narrow clover and narrow-leaved clover.
Trifolium barbigerum is a species of clover known by the common name bearded clover.
Trifolium bifidum is a species of clover known by the common names notchleaf clover and pinole clover. It is native to the western United States from Washington to California, where it grows in many types of habitat. It is an annual herb spreading or growing erect in form. It is lightly hairy to hairless in texture. The leaves are made up of oval leaflets 1 to 2 centimeters long, usually with notches in the tips. The inflorescence is a head of flowers up to 1.5 centimeters wide. Each flower has a calyx of sepals that narrow to bristles covered in long hairs. The flower corolla is yellowish, pinkish, or purple and under a centimeter long. The flowers droop on the head as they age.
Trifolium ciliolatum is a species of clover known by the common name foothill clover. It is native to western North America from Washington to Baja California.
Trifolium depauperatum is a species of clover known by the common names cowbag clover, poverty clover, and balloon sack clover.
Trifolium eriocephalum is a species of clover known by the common name woollyhead clover or hairy head clover.
Trifolium fragiferum, the strawberry clover, is a herbaceous perennial plant species in the bean family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It is present in other places, such as sections of North America, as an introduced species. It is also cultivated as a cover crop and for hay and silage, as green manure, and as a bee plant.
Trifolium glomeratum is a species of clover known by the common names clustered clover and bush clover. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa and it is known elsewhere as an introduced species. It easily takes hold in disturbed areas, becoming a common weed. It is an annual herb growing decumbent to upright in form with mostly hairless herbage. The leaves are made up of oval leaflets up to 1.2 centimeters in length. The inflorescences occur in leaf axils, each a headlike cluster of many flowers. Each flower has a calyx of sepals with triangular points that bend outward, and a pink corolla.
Trifolium gracilentum is a species of clover known by the common names pinpoint clover and slender clover. It is native to western North America including the west coast of the United States and northwestern Mexico, where it grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas. It is an annual herb growing prostrate to erect in form with mostly hairless or slightly hairy herbage. The leaves are made up of lance-shaped to oval leaflets. The inflorescence is an umbel of flowers that spread out or flex downward. The flowers have pink or purple corollas less than a centimeter long.
Trifolium lemmonii is a species of clover known by the common name Lemmon's clover.
Trifolium macraei is a species of clover known by the common names Chilean clover, double-head clover, and MacRae's clover. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring on the coastline of Oregon and California in the United States, as well as in South America. It grows in coastal habitat, such as sand dunes, and disturbed areas. It is an annual herb taking a decumbent or erect form. The leaves are made up of oval leaflets 1 to 2 centimeters in length. The inflorescence is usually made up of two oval or rounded heads of flowers each measuring up to 1.5 centimeters wide. Each flower has a calyx of sepals which taper into densely hairy bristles. The flower corolla is purple or bicolored with white or pink.
Trifolium macrocephalum is a species of clover known by the common name largehead clover or bighead clover native to the Great Basin region of the western United States.
Trifolium microcephalum is a species of clover known by the common names smallhead clover and small-headed clover.
Trifolium obtusiflorum is a species of clover known by the common name clammy clover. It is native to California in the Peninsular, Transverse, Sierra Nevada, and the California Coast Ranges and Cascade Range into southwestern Oregon.
Vicia pannonica is a species of vetch known by the common name Hungarian vetch. It is native to southern, central Europe and western Asia, and it is sometimes cultivated as an agricultural crop for use as hay and fodder. It may escape cultivation and grow as a casual roadside weed.
Media related to Trifolium hirtum at Wikimedia Commons