We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Trifolium bifidum - A.Gray.

Common Name Piñole Clover, Notchleaf clover
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Open ground[204]. Grassy fields and open woodland.
Range South-western N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Trifolium bifidum Piñole Clover, Notchleaf clover


Trifolium bifidum Piñole Clover, Notchleaf clover

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Trifolium bifidum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
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 soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[161]. Eaten sparingly when young[257]. Seed - raw or cooked[105]. It can be used as a piñole[257]. The seed can be sprouted and added to salads or it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickener in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread etc.

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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil in full sun[200]. 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]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

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 after the last expected frosts.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oregon, Washington (s.-c.), California)

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 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 ornithopodioidesBirdsfoot Fenugreek, Bird cloverAnnual/Perennial0.2 0-0  LMHNMWe103
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

A.Gray.

Botanical References

204

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Trifolium bifidum  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.