Hop Trefoil
Encyclopedia
Trifolium campestre, commonly known as Hop Trefoil 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".
It is a herbaceous biennial
or 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 flower
s. 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).
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.
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
native to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and western Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, growing in most areas, but specifically thriving on dry, sandy grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
habitats, as well as in fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land. The species name campestre means "of the fields".
It is a herbaceous biennial
Biennial plant
A biennial plant is a flowering plant that takes two years to complete its biological lifecycle. In the first year the plant grows leaves, stems, and roots , then it enters a period of dormancy over the colder months. Usually the stem remains very short and the leaves are low to the ground, forming...
or annual plant
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
, growing to 10-30 cm tall, with distinctive yellow flowerheads
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
that superficially resemble Hop
Hop (plant)
Humulus, Hop, is a small genus of flowering plants native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The female flowers of H. lupulus are known as hops, and are used as a culinary flavoring and stabilizer, especially in the brewing of beer...
flowers. Each flowerhead is a cylindrical or spherical collection of 20-40 individual flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s. The flowers become brown upon aging and drying. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are alternate and trifoliate, with three oblong or elliptical leaflets 4-10 mm long.
This species is very closely related to Large Hop Trefoil
Large Hop Trefoil
Trifolium aureum, the Large Hop Trefoil, also sometimes known as Golden clover or Hop clover, is a species of clover native to much of central and southern Europe....
(Trifolium aureum).
Cultivation and uses
Hop trefoil is the third most important clover in agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
because its foliage is good for feeding livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
and replenishing soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. It is not generally planted, but is considered a valuable herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
when found growing in a pasture. It has become naturalised
Naturalisation (biology)
In biology, naturalisation is any process by which a non-native organism spreads into the wild and its reproduction is sufficient to maintain its population. Such populations are said to be naturalised....
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, particularly in the west and south of the continent.