Large hop clover (Trifolium aureum, Hist. Pl. Palat. 2: 344 (1777))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: Pollich

Bibliography: Hist. Pl. Palat. 2: 344 (1777)

Year: 1777

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Trifolium

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Europe to Siberia and Iran

Description

The Large Hop Clover is a remarkable and widespread plant scientifically known as Trifolium aureum. Originally documented in 1777 by Pollich in his work Historiæ Plantarum Palatinarum, this species has intrigued botanists and plant enthusiasts for centuries.

Belonging to the family Fabaceae, the Large Hop Clover is notable for its adaptability and extensive geographical range. Native predominantly to Europe, it extends eastward, flourishing as far as Siberia and Iran. This wide distribution highlights the clover’s resilience and capacity to thrive in diverse environmental conditions.

Characterized by its golden-yellow flowers, which cluster together in dense heads resembling those of hop plant cones, the Large Hop Clover contributes significantly to the ecological tapestry of the regions it inhabits. In addition to its aesthetic charm, it plays an essential role in agriculture and the environment due to its nitrogen-fixing ability. Like other legumes, Trifolium aureum enriches the soil, improving fertility and supporting the growth of other plants.

Understanding the historical context and botanical attributes of the Large Hop Clover not only enriches our appreciation for this plant but also underscores its ecological importance across multiple continents.

Common Names

Deu: gold-klee
Eng: golden clover, golden trefoil, hop clover, large hop clover, large hop trefoil, large trefoil, yellow clover, greater hop clover
Dan: humle-kløver
Swe: gullklöver, kelta-apila
Nob: gullkløver
Nno: gullkløver
Nor: guulkoll
Fin: kelta-apila
Cat: trèvol daurat
Nld: akkerklaver
Sme: fiskesluovvar
Fra: trèfle doré, trèfle agraire, trèfle jaune
Cym: meillionen fawr, meillionen hopysaidd fawr
En: Large hop clover, Large trefoil, Golden clover, Hop clover, Large hop trefoil, Golden Trefoil, Yellow Clover, Greater hop clover
Ar: نفل ذهبي
Be: Канюшына шаматкая
Bg: Златиста детелина
Ca: Trèvol daurat
Zh: 金黄车轴草, 黄车轴草
Cs: Jetel zlatý
Da: Humlekløver, Humle-kløver
Nl: Akkerklaver, Gouden Klaver, Goudgele Klaver
Et: Kuldristik
Fi: Kelta-apila
Fr: Trèfle Doré, Trèfle agraire, Trèfle jaune
De: Gold-Klee, Goldklee
Is: Gullsmári
It: Trifoglio aureo
Lt: Dirvoninis dobilas
Se: Fiskesluovvar
No: Gullkløver, Guulkoll
Nb: Gullkløver
Nn: Gullkløver
Fa: شبدر نارنجی
Pl: Koniczyna złocistożółta
Ru: Хмелёк
Sk: Ďatelinka zlatožltá
Es: Trébol de prado, Trébol del prado
Sv: Gullklöver, Humleklöver, Jordhumle, Kelta-apila
Tr: Altuni üçgül
Uk: Конюшина золотиста
Cy: Meillionen hopysaidd fawr, Meillionen Fawr

Synonyms

• Chrysaspis aurea ((Pollich) Greene)
• Trifolium strepens (Crantz)
• Trifolium agrarium (L.)
• Trifolium aureum var. achtarovii ((Urum.) Kožuharov)
• Trifolium campestre (C.C.Gmel.)
• Trifolium aureum subsp. achtarovii (Urum.)
• Amarenus agrarius ((L.) C.Presl)
• Trifolium aureum f. achtarovii ((Urum.) Stoj., Stef. & Kitan.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Werner Rom (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Pietro Brignoli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 4, 2022 by Ricardo Lemaur (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Pietro Brignoli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Pietro Brignoli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 17, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2021 by Robert Robert Courteau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 14, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2021 by Carol H (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (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.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:522892-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5359060)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Trifolium aureum Pollich)

Specifications

Growth