Field Clover (Trifolium campestre)

Hop Trefoil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Trifolium
Species:	T. campestre
Binomial name
	Trifolium campestre; Schreb.

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.

Description

It is a herbaceous annual plant, growing to 10–30 centimetres (4–12 in) tall. The leaves are alternate and trifoliate, with three oblong or elliptical leaflets 4–10 millimetres (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) long.

The 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.

Similar plants

The species may be confused with others that have three leaflets and small yellow flowers, such as T. aureum (large hop trefoil), T. dubium (lesser hop trefoil), Medicago lupulina (black medick), and Oxalis stricta (yellow woodsorrel).

Etymology

The species name campestre means "of the fields".

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Europe and western Asia, growing in dry, sandy grassland habitats, fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land.^{[citation needed]}

It has become naturalised in North America, particularly in the west and south of the continent.

Uses

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.^{[citation needed]}