Trifolium arvense
Flower heads of rabbit clover (Trifolium arvense)
The rabbit clover ( Trifolium arvense ) is a perennial plant of the legume family ( Fabaceae ). He is of course widespread in Eurasia.
The name rabbit Clover means that this species is not suitable as a forage crop for livestock but "only for rabbits ." This Clover Style contains tannins and is shunned because of the harsh and bitter stems of farm animals. Folk, he is also referred to arable, cats or mice Clover, and, because of its effect against diarrhea, as Stopfarsch.
Description
The rabbit clover is an annual herbaceous plant with plant height 10-30 inches. The stem is erect and branched often expansive. The plant parts are usually very hairy. The rabbit Clover often has a fairly long taproot. The alternate arranged leaves are divided into Blattstielt and leaf blade. The feathered leaf blade is fingered in three parts. The three gray-green leaflets are relatively narrow. The stipules are subulate acuminate from a lanceolate base. The petiole is often hidden between the stipules.
One can distinguish the hare Clover from the other clover species well through rose- red, hairy little head -like inflorescences. The long-stemmed, little head -shaped buds of the rabbit clover are about 1 cm wide and 1-2 cm high. The flowers are sessile at the bowl. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and fünfzählig double perianth. The five sepals are fused to a 5 to 7 mm long, long shaggy hairy and reddish calyx. The five petals are not fused, they are at first white, later pale pink. The corolla is shorter or at most the same length as the calyx. This creates the characteristic pink and shaggy appearance of the flower heads. Nine of the ten stamens are fused together.
1 to 1.5 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm wide legume jumps to little, and contains only one or two seed.
Ecology
The rabbit Clover is a Therophyt.
Blütenöklogisch is leading nectar butterfly flowers with folding mechanism. Pollination is by bees and bumble bees, rarely by butterflies, sand wasps and flies; spontaneous self-pollination is successful.
Diasporas ( unit propagation ) are initially covered by the conspicuous feathery calyx hairy legumes; these serve as a flight organ and are pronounced tuft flyer. As the hair run hygroscopic movements, even a prison propagation is possible. Later, the seeds are released and spread out so on.
Occurrence
Originally, the hare - clover was present in only Europe and western Siberia. Today he has been abducted in large parts of the world.
One finds the rabbit Clover fairly common in premolars poor grass on sand fields and rocky heads, of sandy roads and dams, in fallows and fields. It prefers dry summer, low lime, moderately acidic, raw sand, gravel or Grusboden. After Ellenberg he is a light plant, a Trockniszeiger nitrogen poorest locations and indicating a Klassencharakterart loose sand and rock turf (Sedo - Scleranthetea ).
System
The first publication of Trifolium arvense was made in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2, pp. 769
Trifolium arvense belongs to the sub-section Arvensia from the section Trifolium in the genus Trifolium.
Use
Because of its bitter taste of rabbit clover has only a low feed value. Even as a medicinal plant it is no longer used today. In contrast, it is recommended for dry bouquets, since the calyx hairs give the flower heads a decorative, kitten -like appearance. Also it is suitable as an ornamental plant for wild plants gardens on silicate soils.
Swell
- Entry in the Western Australian flora. ( Description section )
- Rabbit clover. In: FloraWeb.de.