Knowra Clover Clover Clover is a genus of flowering legumes, Trifolium, recognized by leaves usually divided into three leaflets. Many species are grown as forage and improve soil through nitrogen fixation.
Trifolium : Trifolium is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. This is the botanical genus that contains clovers.
Forage : Forage is plant material eaten by grazing animals or harvested as livestock feed. Clover’s nutritious foliage makes it a widely used forage crop.
White clover : White clover is a low-growing perennial clover with creeping stems and white flower heads. It is a common pasture and lawn species that tolerates close grazing.
Wood sorrel : Wood sorrel is a flowering plant in the genus Oxalis, often bearing three heart-shaped leaflets. Its three-part leaves invite confusion, but it is not a true clover.
Biological nitrogen cycle : The biological nitrogen cycle describes how nitrogen moves among organisms, soil, water, and the atmosphere. Clover-mediated nitrogen fixation feeds nitrogen into this wider cycle.
Fabaceae : Fabaceae is a large family of flowering plants that includes peas, beans, and many nitrogen-fixing species. Clover belongs to this family of legumes.
Pasture : Pasture is land covered with vegetation used for grazing livestock. Clover is sown in pastures to provide feed and enrich the soil.
Red clover : Red clover is a short-lived perennial clover with pink to purple flower heads. It is cultivated as forage and often used in hay and crop rotations.
Sweet clover : Sweet clover is a legume genus, Melilotus, with small flowers and typically trifoliate leaves. Despite its common name and similar uses, it belongs outside Trifolium.
Soil fertility : Soil fertility is the capacity of soil to supply nutrients that support plant growth. Nitrogen fixed by clover can increase fertility for subsequent crops.
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