Trifolium arvense

Botanical Description

Trifolium arvense is an erect to ascending, annual plant, usually with spreading branches; it can grow 5 - 30cm tall[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. , 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. Trifolium arvense is sometimes grown in pastures. It has escaped from cultivation in some areas, including Australia, where it is considered to be an invasive weed. It often grows in dense patches, thus crowding out native species; in addition it fixes atmospheric nitrogen, increasing natural fertility levels in the soil and potentially altering the species combination of native plants[ 1003 Title Invasive lant Species of the World; a reference guide to envoronmental weeds. Publication Author Weber E. Publisher Biddles Ltd., King's Lynn, UK Year 2005 ISBN 0-85199-695-7 Description Contains information on the habit and growth patterns of 450 recognised invasive species of plant. ].