Trifolium campestre - Field Clover, or Hop Trefoil

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Fabales - Family: Fabaceae

Field Clover, also commonly referred to as Hop Trefoil, is widespread and common throughout the UK and Ireland. This little wildflower of lawns, fields and wasteland is easily overlooked, because it is less colourful than many of the larger clover species.

Description

The yellow flowers are like miniature pea flowers packed densely into round or oval heads, 1 to 2 cm long, each on a separate short stalk arising rom a leaf axil. Gradually the flowers turn cream and then light brown before producing seed. The leaves help distinguish Field Clover from other similar species. Each of the three individual ellipsoidal or oblong to lanceolate leaflets is 1-2 cm long with slightly serrated edges; the centre leaflet has a short stalk while the two side leaflets are stalkless.

Blooming times

Field Clover can be seen blooming from April right through to October.

Distribution

Native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, Trifolium campestre has been introduced, probably as a fodder crop, to other parts of the world including North America.