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Trifolium hirtum

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Species of legume

Trifolium hirtum
Scientific classification Edit this 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
All.

Trifolium hirtum, commonly known as rose clover, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. 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.

Distribution and habitat

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.

Morphology and anatomy

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.

Inflorescence and flowers

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.

Cultivation and uses

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.

Ecological impact

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.

References

  1. NRCS. "Trifolium hirtum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  2. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. S. K. Jain; P. S. Martins (April 1979). "Ecological genetics of the colonizing ability of rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All.)". American Journal of Botany. 66 (4): 361–366. doi:10.1002/J.1537-2197.1979.TB06236.X. ISSN 0002-9122. Wikidata Q104828537.
  4. F. Molina-Freaner; S. K. Jain (1992). "Inheritance of male sterility in Trifolium hirtum All". Genetica. 85 (2): 153–161. doi:10.1007/BF00120322. ISSN 0016-6707. Wikidata Q104828538.

External links

Media related to Trifolium hirtum at Wikimedia Commons

Taxon identifiers
Trifolium hirtum


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