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Trifolium ornithopodioides - (L.)Sm.

Common Name Birdsfoot Fenugreek, Bird clover
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry sandy places in southern England, mainly near the coast[5, 17].
Range Southern and western Europe, including Britain, from Denmark south to N. Africa.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Trifolium ornithopodioides Birdsfoot Fenugreek, Bird clover


Trifolium ornithopodioides Birdsfoot Fenugreek, Bird clover

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Trifolium ornithopodioides is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is in flower from May to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Falcata falsotrifolium. F. ornithopodioides. Trigonella ornithopodioides. Trigonella purpurascens.

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment

Leaves - raw or cooked[5]. The dried leaves are coumarin-scented and have been suggested as a substitute for fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil in full sun[200]. In the wild plants are found in open habitats that are moist or wet in winter[50]. Plants are also likely to be resistant to maritime exposure. Succeeds in poor soils. It grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that stores better[201]. It should not be grown with camellias or gooseberries because it harbours a mite that can cause fruit drop in the gooseberries and premature budding in the camellias[201]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. Buttercups growing nearby depress the growth of the nitrogen bacteria by means of a root exudate[201].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in situ. If the seed is in short supply it might be better to sow it in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Former Yugoslavia, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Romania, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Trifolium bifidumPiñole Clover, Notchleaf cloverAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHNM203
Trifolium ciliatumFoothill CloverAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHNM203
Trifolium cyathiferumCup CloverAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHNM102
Trifolium dichotomumBranched Indian CloverAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM202
Trifolium dubiumSuckling CloverAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHNM013
Trifolium fimbriatumSpringbank Clover, Cows cloverPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHNM302
Trifolium fucatumSour Clover, Bull cloverAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM202
Trifolium fucatum virescens Annual0.6 0-0  LMHNM202
Trifolium gracilentumPin-Point Clover, Palmer's cloverAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM202
Trifolium hybridumAlsike CloverPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHNM212
Trifolium incarnatumCrimson CloverAnnual0.5 3-9 MLMHNM204
Trifolium lupinasterLupine cloverPerennial0.5 0-0  LMHNM102
Trifolium macrocephalumBighead Clover, Largehead cloverPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHNM103
Trifolium microcephalumSmallhead CloverAnnual0.6 -  LMHNM10 
Trifolium obtusiflorumClammy CloverAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHNM202
Trifolium pratenseRed CloverPerennial0.6 5-9 MLMHNM334
Trifolium repensWhite Clover, Dutch Clover, Purple Dutch Clover, Shamrock, White CloverPerennial0.1 4-8 MLMHNM324
Trifolium subterraneumSubterranean CloverAnnual0.2 7-10  LMHNM104
Trifolium tridentatumTomcat CloverAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM202
Trifolium variegatumWhitetip CloverAnnual1.0 -  LMHNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Sm.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

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Subject : Trifolium ornithopodioides  
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