red clover

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• meadow clover
• purple clover
• red clover
• Chilean clover
• cowgrass clover
• mammoth red clover
• medium red clover
• peavine clover

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lagopus pratensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Trifolium pratense, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and is categorized under the genus Trifolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing throughout the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. The distribution also extends to the islands of Føroyar and Iceland. Additionally, the species is commonly documented across Great Britain. These diverse locations highlight its ability to thrive in different Northern European environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Trifolium pratense is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a vast altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3300 m AMSL. With a mean elevational range of approximately 2200 m AMSL, the species demonstrates a significant capacity to colonize diverse topographical zones. Its preferred habitats frequently include disturbed or managed landscapes, specifically within crop fields, where it integrates into agricultural ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields

Genetics

The genetics of Trifolium pratense are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that exhibits significant variation across different accessions and breeding lines. The species displays diverse chromosome numbers, typically recorded as 14, 28, or 48, reflecting a history of polyploidization events within the genus. Despite this variability in total count, the baseline ploidy level for standard diploid representations is 2, which serves as the fundamental genetic foundation for its reproductive and phenotypic stability. This chromosomal plasticity plays a critical role in the plant's evolutionary adaptation and its capacity for genetic diversification.

Chromosome number :

14, 28, 48

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Trifolium pratense is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. The plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its vegetative structure in a manner that allows for continued growth and resilience. Through this complex life cycle and specific life form, the species is well-adapted to its ecological niche, utilizing its perennial nature and hemicryptophytic strategy to ensure long-term survival and reproductive success.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Trifolium pratense is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial species is non-parasitic and functions as an independent organism, lacking any epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit with an ascending shoot orientation, rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.464 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.464333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Trifolium pratense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on standard nutrient uptake from the soil, significantly aided by its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, establishing symbiotic relationships to enhance nutrient availability. The leaf morphology exhibits considerable variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 22.5 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 0.7 cm to 3 cm, resulting in a mean width of 2.6 cm. These leaves typically display an elliptic form, with a mean leaf size of 7.155 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 233.73 cm²/g, reflecting its resource allocation strategies and leaf mass distribution relative to its surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

22.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.155 cm²

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

233.73 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Trifolium pratense is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers that exhibit a violet color. The flowering period is extensive, typically beginning in May and continuing through October. These flowers, which range in length from 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm, rely on biotic pollination, specifically through an insect syndrome involving bees. Self-fertilization is noted as absent, necessitating these pollinators for successful reproduction. Following fertilization, the plant produces dry, dehiscent pods as its fruit type. These fruits are relatively small, with a mean length and width of 0.3 cm. Within these pods, the plant produces a significant quantity of seeds, ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean length and width of 2 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.00147925 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00059 g to a maximum of 0.00237 g), and a mean volume of 2 mm³. Regarding dispersal, the plant utilizes an unspecialized syndrome alongside anthropochorous mechanisms. As a monocarp, its reproductive cycle is completed within a single season, and asexual reproduction is absent.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

1.8 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed length min:

1.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00237 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00147925 g

Seed mass min:

0.00059 g

Seed volume max:

2 mm³

Seed width mean:

2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Trifolium pratense has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, flower.

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of oleo science

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Trifolium pratense has 265 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include formononetin, Isoflavones, biochanin A, Prunetin, genistein.

formononetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant cell reports
3. Cancers
4. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
5. Journal of natural products

Isoflavones

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant cell reports
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
5. Food & function

biochanin A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA
3. Plant cell reports
4. Journal of natural products
5. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Prunetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. Fitoterapia
4. Journal of chromatography. A
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

genistein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant cell reports
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Steroids
3. Fitoterapia
4. Journal of chromatography. A

Irilone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. Journal of chromatography. A

Isoflavone

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Journal of chromatography. A

Ononin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Poultry science
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Phytoestrogens

1. Menopause international
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society

Activities

Trifolium pratense has 747 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Estrogenic, Anticancer, Neuroprotective, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancers
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Redox report : communications in free radical research

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
3. Planta medica
4. Frontiers in pharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancers
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancers
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancers

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Trifolium pratense has 41 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, antidiabetic, depression, hot flashes, premenstrual syndrome.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Cancers
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Depression

1. Menopause international
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hot flashes

1. Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
2. Journal of natural products

Premenstrual syndrome

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Coccidiosis

1. Poultry science

Parkinson's disease

1. Food & function

Type 2 diabetes

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiety

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Trifolium pratense has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Freeze-dried samples, TP powder, aqueous extract, ethanol extracts, ethanolic extract.

Freeze-dried samples

1. Journal of food science and technology

Tp powder

1. Poultry science

Aqueous extract

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extract

1. Poultry science

Flowers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Red clover extractive

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Seed oils

1. Journal of oleo science