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Red Clover

Trifolium pratense

Summary 3

Trifolium pratense (red clover) is a species of clover, native to Europe, Western Asia and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalised in many other regions.

Associations 4

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Apion apricans feeds on inflorescence of Trifolium pratense
Other: sole host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion assimile feeds within inflorescence of Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Apion laevicolle feeds on Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion trifolii feeds within inflorescence of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Apion varipes feeds on flower? of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion virens feeds within stem of Trifolium pratense
Remarks: Other: uncertain

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / spot causer
epiphyllous, few, immersed, brownish pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta trifolii causes spots on live leaf of Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: 7

Foodplant / pathogen
Bean Yellow Mosaic virus infects and damages live Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / pathogen
conidiophore of Botrytis dematiaceous anamorph of Botrytis anthophila infects and damages greyed anther of Trifolium pratense

Plant / associate
adult of Bruchidius varius is associated with Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: (late 7-early 10, late 4)5-6
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / sap sucker
Ceraleptus lividus sucks sap of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / parasite
conidial anamorph of Erysiphe trifolii parasitises live Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Hypera meles grazes on leaf of Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Hypera nigrirostris grazes on leaf of Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Hypera punctata grazes on leaf of Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / spot causer
erumpent Kabatiella coelomycetous anamorph of Kabatiella caulivora causes spots on live petiole of Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: 4-7

Foodplant / spot causer
immersed pseudothecium of Leptosphaerulina trifolii causes spots on live leaf of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / spot causer
amphigenous pseudothecium of Mycosphaerella carinthiaca causes spots on live leaf of Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: 4-5

Foodplant / feeds on
adult of Orsodacne humeralis feeds on pollen? of Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: 3-6

Foodplant / parasite
sporangium of Peronospora trifoliorum parasitises live Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
gregarious, sessile apothecium of Pseudombrophila ramosa is saprobic on dead, rotting stem of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / parasite
erumpent apothecium of Pseudopeziza trifolii parasitises live leaf of Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: 4-1

Foodplant / spot causer
mostly hypophyllous colony of Ramularia anamorph of Ramularia sphaeroidea causes spots on leaf of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / saprobe
superficial colony of Sarcopodium dematiaceous anamorph of Sarcopodium circinatum is saprobic on dead stem of Trifolium pratense

Plant / resting place / among
apothecium of Sclerotinia trifoliorum may be found among Trifolium pratense
Remarks: season: 9-11

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Sitona lepidus feeds on Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Sitona puncticollis feeds on Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Sitona sulcifrons feeds on Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / spot causer
conidiophore of Stemphylium dematiaceous anamorph of Stemphylium sarciniforme causes spots on live leaf of Trifolium pratense

Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous telium of Uromyces fallens parasitises live leaf of Trifolium pratense
Other: major host/prey

Comments 5

Among the various Trifolium spp. (Clovers), Red Clover is fairly easy to identify because of its large pink flowerheads and the white chevrons on its leaflets. It is unusual among the clovers in having sessile leaflets at the base of the flowerheads. There is some variability in the hairiness of the foliage and the color of the flowers. The common name is somewhat misleading because the flowers are never a true red. On rare occasions, a compound leaf will produce 4 or more leaflets.

Description 6

This perennial plant is ½–2' tall, branching occasionally. The hairy stems are sprawling or erect. The alternate compound leaves are trifoliate. The lower compound leaves have long hairy petioles, while the upper leaves have short petioles or they are sessile. The leaflets are up to 2" long and ¾" across. They are oval-ovate or slightly obovate; sometimes they are a little broader below the middle. Their margins are smooth and ciliate and their tips are blunt. Toward the middle of the upper surface of each leaflet, there is usually a chevron that is white or light green. The leaflets are sessile and lack petioles of their own. At the base of each compound leaf, there is a pair of ovate stipules up to ½" long. The upper stems terminate in flowerheads that are spheroid or ovoid. Usually there are 1-3 leaflets immediately beneath each flowerhead, as well as several green bracts with tips that abruptly taper to a slender tip. Each flowerhead is about 1" across and consists of numerous flowers. These flowers are sessile, tubular-shaped, and spread outward in different directions. Each flower has 5 narrow petals that are pink or purplish pink, becoming light pink or white toward the base of the flowerhead; a rare form of this species with white petals also exists. The upper petal is slightly longer than the lower petals. The light green calyx of each flower has 5 slender teeth and it is usually hairy.  The blooming period usually occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 1-2 months. However, a few plants may bloom later in the summer or fall. The flowers have a mild honey-like fragrance, while the foliage, when it exists in abundance, produces a distinctive clover-like aroma that is quite pleasant. Each flower is replaced by a small seedpod containing 1 or 2 heart-shaped seeds. The root system consists of a taproot and produces rhizomes. This plant can spread vegetatively or by reseeding itself.

Uses 7

Red clover is primarily used for hay, pasture, silage, and soil improvement. It is a quick growing crop, easily established, and produces high quality forage. Tolerance of shade allows red clover to be used effectively as a cover crop under silage corn.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) beautifulcataya, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/70668033@N00/3936455393
  2. (c) Martin LaBar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/8184750335/
  3. Adapted by Jonathan (JC) Carpenter from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_pratense
  4. (c) BioImages, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22911837
  5. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29447757
  6. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29447753
  7. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1396272

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