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Trifolium campestre Schreb.

Low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderFabalesLegumes (pea and bean families)
FamilyFabaceaeLegume family (peas and beans)
GenusTrifolium“Three-leaved,” for the 3-leaf clusters
SpeciescampestreOf the fields or open plains

About plant names...

Low hop clover is native to Eurasia, but it has become naturalized and widespread in North America.

Identification: Trifolium ("three-leaved") is a large genus, and three common yellow hop clovers are compared below. Black medic, a relative, looks closely similar to low hop clover, so this is included too.

 

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/17/2019 · Oceanview, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

8/1/2009 · Gordon & Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

 
Trifolium aureum
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Trifolium campestre

Trifolium dubium
Common Name

hop clover

low hop clover

least hop clover
Plant Plants 6-18″ (15-45 cm) high. Up to 1′ (40 cm) tall, sometimes erect, sometimes growing along the ground 2-6″ (5-15 cm) tall, often forming mats.
Flowers

 

About ¾″ (1.9 cm) high. Flowers turn brown and wilt, seeds fall to the ground instead of forming a fruit

 

Yellow, less than ½″ (1.3 cm) across; roughly spherical, with 20-40 individual flowers; flowerheads become brown with age. Upper petals of the flowers have grooves.

 

About ¼″ (6.3 mm) yellow flowerheads, oval to spherical, 5-15 flowers per head. Flowers turn brown when seeds ripen.
Leaves

 

Groups of 3. Central leaf is not on a separate stem (petiole). Leaflets about ¾″ (1.9 cm) long, ¼″ (6.3 mm) wide.

 

Groups of 3, about ¾″ (1.9 cm) long; with small teeth near the leaf tips. The central leaf is on a longer stem (petiole) than with other hop clovers, often notched at the top

 

Alternate, in groups of 3, with a larger center leaf on a short petiole (stem), often notched at the top.
Stem Multiply branched, usually erect Green or reddish green, multiply branched Green or reddish, multiply branched.
Seeds Inconspicuous Inconspicuous  
Fruit     Inconspicuous.
Range/ Zones

Habitats Grasslands, fields, roadsides, wastelands Temperate grasslands, fields, roadsides, wastelands, cultivated fields Disturbed soil, meadows, common in lawns.
Type Wild Wild Wild
Occurrence Common Common Common

 

 
Medicago lupulina
Common Name

black medic
Plant Plant may reach up to 2½′ (76 cm) long
Flowers

 

Rounded, about ¼-½″ (6.3-12 mm)
Leaves

 

Three leaves, with slightly serrated tips, center leaf on separate petiole
Stem Often prostrate, light green or reddish green, covered with white hairs
Seeds Black, coiled
Fruit

 

Seedpods are "coiled"—this is probably the most unique feature of black medic
Range/ Zones

Habitats Prairies (black soil, clay), weedy meadows, old fields, cropland, pastures, vacant lots, landfills, cemeteries, lawns, areas along railroads and roadsides, and miscellaneous waste areas; common in low-cut lawns
Type Wild

 

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses

Discover Life

CalPhotos

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

EFloras

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 58

Peterson, Roger Tory, McKenny, Margaret, Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers—Northeastern and North Central North America, Houghton Mifflin, 1968, p. 150

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 16 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/15/2012 · Slipway Restaurant, Thomaston, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

8/2/2009 · Gordon & Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

Trifolium procumbens L., nom. utique rej.

 

Trifolium campestre description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

By Bernd Haynold · 9/30/2007 · Härtsfeld, Germany

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/17/2019 · Oceanview, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/18/2020 · Woodward Point Preserve, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/16/2021 · Cox Pinnacle, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/17/2019 · Oceanview, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

7/15/2012 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

8/3/2009 · By J Gordon Williamson ID is uncertain

Trifolium campestre (low hop clover, hop trefoil, field clover)

5/23/2008 · Memphis, Ten­nes­see · By Tim Chandler

Range:

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