Trifolium subterraneum
Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum ) ( herbarium )
The Bodenfrüchtige clover ( Trifolium subterraneum ) is a species of the genus clover ( Trifolium ). He is placed in the genus in the section Trichocephalum. Especially is the Geokarpie called propagation mechanism in which the inflorescence drilled into the ground after the fruit ripening.
Description
This annual herbaceous plant reminiscent in appearance strongly to Medicago or even Oxalis species. The delicate -looking, slightly branched to unbranched stems grow prostrate or ascending, reaching lengths of usually 10 to 30 cm. He is bald or hairy but also projecting shaggy.
The deciduous leaves are of wrong - heart shape and achieve growth lengths of 0.8 to 1.2 cm.
The flower heads are about 1 cm long and usually consist of ten to twelve about as long distinctly curved petals. These are striped white and pink. The calyx teeth are almost as long as the tube.
The lenticular about 2.5 mm long are seeds of black color.
Trifolium subterraneum is very diverse and is divided into several subspecies or varieties.
The Bodenfrüchtige Clover flowers mainly in the months of March and April.
The type is especially noticeable on by that they have developed a so-called Geokarpie: Of the up to twelve flowers of a capitulum develop only three or four fruits. For the rest, the shaggy chalices grow into thick stems with five tentacle -like curved spines. Through strong curvature of the elongating inflorescence stems up to 1.5 cm, these penetrate into the soil. The located in the ground fruit bowl are then additionally anchored by the spines curving back sideways and upward.
The chromosome number is 2n = 16
Dissemination
The home of Bodenfrüchtigen clover is the entire Mediterranean region and eastward to Asia Minor. Furthermore, he appears as a neophyte in England.
In Central Europe, Trifolium subterraneum rare to find abducted and is only unstable before, such as in Switzerland ( Zurich, Solothurn ) or Germany (Baden- Württemberg, North Bavaria).