Family: Fabaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 768 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Trifolium
Vegetable: False
Observations: Macaronesia, NW. Africa, Europe to Mongolia and Himalaya
Description
Cowgrass clover, known scientifically as Trifolium pratense, is a member of the Fabaceae family. This versatile and hardy plant is native to a wide range of regions, including Macaronesia, Northwest Africa, and stretches from Europe all the way to Mongolia and the Himalayas.
Trifolium pratense, first described in 1753, displays the resilience and adaptability typical of legumes. It thrives in diverse climates and soil conditions, which contributes to its broad distribution. The presence of Cowgrass clover is particularly notable in temperate and subtropical areas where it often plays a crucial role in both natural ecosystems and agricultural systems.
In agricultural settings, Cowgrass clover is highly valued for its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, thanks to its symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria. This natural fertilization process not only enriches the soil but also enhances the growth of subsequent crops. Consequently, it is a common component of crop rotation systems and is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and prevent erosion.
The plant itself is characterized by its trifoliate leaves, which consist of three leaflets, a feature common to members of the Fabaceae family. The leaves are typically bright green with a distinctive pale crescent shape on each leaflet. Cowgrass clover produces globular flower heads composed of numerous small, reddish-purple flowers, which are particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators. This makes it a valuable resource in maintaining healthy pollinator populations.
In addition to its agricultural benefits, Cowgrass clover is also utilized in traditional medicine. It has been used historically to treat a variety of ailments, including respiratory issues, skin conditions, and menopausal symptoms, due to its purported anti-inflammatory and estrogenic properties. Modern research continues to explore these potential health benefits, particularly focusing on its isoflavones, which are plant-based compounds that exhibit antioxidant activity.
Despite its many benefits, Cowgrass clover can sometimes be viewed as a weed in certain contexts, especially in managed lawns and gardens where its vigorous growth can overshadow other species. Managing its spread in such areas might require specific strategies to balance its ecological and agricultural advantages with aesthetic and maintenance considerations.
Overall, Trifolium pratense, or Cowgrass clover, is a plant of significant ecological and economic importance. Its wide distribution and numerous benefits underscore its role in supporting both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.
Common Names
Eng: chilean clover, cowgrass clover, mammoth red clover, medium red clover, peavine clover, purple clover, red clover
Deu: rotklee, wiesen-klee
Dan: rød-kløver
Swe: puna-apila, rödklöver
Fin: puna-apila
Nno: raudkløver
Nld: rode klaver
Nob: rødkløver
Nor: rødkol
Cat: trefle, trèvol de prat
Spa: trevo-dos-prados, trébol común, trébol rojo, trébol violeta
Por: trevo-dos-prados, trevo-violeta
Ita: trifoglio pratense, trifoglio violetta
Fra: trèfle des prés, trèfle rouge, trèfle violet, trèfle commun
Sme: ruksesluovvar
Cym: clofer coch, maill coch, marchfeillionen, meillion coch, meillionen goch
Gla: seamrag dhearg, seamrag-chapaill, seamragan dearga, seamragan-capaill
En: Cowgrass clover, Medium red clover, Peavine clover, Mammoth red clover, Red clover, Purple clover, Chilean clover, Honeysuckle clover, Broad-leaved Clover, Chilian Clover, Cowgrass, Meadow Honeysuckle, Meadow Trefoil
Af: Rooiklawer
Ar: نفل أحمر, نفل احمر, نفل المروج
Hy: Երեքնուկ մարգագետնային
Az: Çəmənlik üçyarpaq yoncası
Ba: Туҡранбаш
Eu: Hirusta gorri
Be: Канюшына лугавая
Bg: Червена детелина
Ca: Trèvol comú, Trèvol de prat, Trèvol vermell, Trefle, trèvol de prat, Farratge bord, Trefle
Zh: Hong che zhou cao, 紅菽草, 红车轴草
Kw: Mellyonen rudh
Cr: Mostosmetisowihn
Cs: Jetel luční
Da: Rød Kløver, Rød-Kløver, Rødkløver
Nl: Rode klaver
Eo: Ruĝa trifolio
Et: Aasristik, Punane ristik, Punane ristikhein
Fi: Puna-apila
Fr: Trèfle des prés, Trèfle rouge, Trèfle violet, Trefle des pres, Trèfle commun
Gl: Trevo rubio
Ka: Წითელი სამყურა
De: Rotklee, Rot-Klee, Saatklee, Trifolium pratensis, Wiesen-Klee, Wiesenklee, Roter Wiesen-Klee
Hu: Réti here
Is: Rauðsmári
Ga: Seamair dhearg
It: Trifoglio pratense, Trifoglio violetta, Trifoglio rosso, Trifoglio violetto
Ja: Aka-tsumekusa, Murasaki-tsumekusa
Ky: Шалбаа уй-бедеси
Ko: Bulgeuntokkipul, 붉은토끼풀
Lv: Pļavas āboliņš
Lt: Raudonasis dobilas
Mk: Црвена детелина
Mn: Нугын хошоонгор
Se: Ruksesluovvar
No: Raudkløver, Rød kløver, Rødkløver, Sukkertopp, Rødkol
Nb: Rødkløver
Nn: Raudkløver
Fa: شبدر قرمز
Pl: Koniczyna czerwona, Koniczyna łąkowa
Pt: Trevo-dos-prados, Trevo-violeta, Trevo vermelho
Ru: Klever krasnyj, Клевер луговой
Gd: Seamrag dhearg, Seamrag-chapaill, Seamragan dearga, Seamragan-capaill
Sr: Црвена детелина
Sk: Ďatelina lúčna
Es: Trébol común, Trébol rojo, Trébol violeta, Trébol del prado, Berrillo, Caramelos, Carretón, Chupador, Chupamieles, Chupetes, Chupetitos, Chupones, Chupón, Farucha, Farusa, Hierba de las cataratas, Hirusta gorria, Hoja la nube, Mamatetas, Media luna, Melga, Meliguel, Meriguel, Motas encarnadas, Quínola, Teble, Tefla, Trebalejo, Trebo silvestre, Trebo, Trebulo, Tres en rama, Trevol, Trifolio, Trábol de la media luna, Trébol arvense, Trébol de la luna, Trébol de la media luna, Trébol de los prados colorado, Trébol de los prados, Trébol de media luna, Trébol de prado, Trébol de prados de flores encarnadas, Trébol de prados purpúreas, Trébol de prados, Trébol del príncipe, Trébol enano, Trébol encarnado, Trébol ladino, Trébol pratense que hace las flores purpúreas, Trébol pratense, Trébol productivo, Trébol rojo de los prados, Trébol silvestre, Trébol sopaenvino, Trébol sopavino, Trébol, Trébole, Trébul, Yerba chupelera, Črna detelja, Trevo-dos-prados, Meliguell, Trébol violeto
Sv: Rödklöver, Puna-apila
Zh-tw: 紅菽草
Tr: Çayır üçgülü
Uk: Конюшина лучна
Cy: Meillion coch, Meillionen goch, Clofer Coch, Maill Coch, Marchfeillionen
Synonyms
- Lagopus pratensis ((L.) Bernh.)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Buryatiya (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Føroyar (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- India (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Krym (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Tuva (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Aleutian Is. (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Antipodean Is. (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Chatham Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile South (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Chita (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- Eritrea (introduced)
- Ethiopia (introduced)
- Falkland Is. (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Iceland (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Kamchatka (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Kermadec Is. (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Kuril Is. (introduced)
- KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
- Labrador (introduced)
- Magadan (introduced)
- Manchuria (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Nansei-shoto (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Yakutskiya (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Mar 6, 2020 by Giorgio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 22, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 7, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 14, 2019 by Cavero Juan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 28, 2020 by Clara (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 3, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 14, 2020 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 11, 2017 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 9, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 22, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 13, 2022 by Robin Titz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 2, 2020 by Pierre (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 28, 2022 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 22, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 9, 2021 by 待子 小林 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2021 by nimye (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 25, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 5, 2020 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken May 12, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 4, 2021 by jake morley (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 26, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 10, 2017 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 9, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Apr 10, 2022 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 13, 2022 by mamen de diego gonzalez (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 12, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 9, 2019 by Ken Sedman (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 27, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:523575-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/8324121)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Trifolium pratense L.)
Specifications
Growth form: Single Crown
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.6
Ph minimum: 6.5
Light: 7
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Soil nutriments: 6