Dutch clover

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dutch clover
• ladino clover
• white Dutch clover
• white clover
• New Zealand Clover
• giant clover
• ladino

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amoria repens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Trifolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence extends further north to include the territories of Finland and Iceland. Additionally, the species is documented in the Faroe Islands, locally known as Føroyar. Finally, its geographical range encompasses the various landscapes of Great Britain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Trifolium repens is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from arid desert landscapes and semi-desert regions to highly hydrated areas such as irrigation channels, shores, and wet meadows. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution across varying topographical gradients, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 3750 m AMSL. On average, the plant is found at an elevation of approximately 2285 m AMSL, reflecting its capacity to thrive in both lowland moisture-rich habitats and high-altitude ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

3750 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2285 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

desert, irrigation channals, meadows: wet, semidesert, shores

Genetics

The genetics of Trifolium repens are characterized by significant cytogenetic complexity and a high degree of variability in its chromosomal makeup. The species exhibits a diverse range of chromosome numbers, documented at 16, 22, 28, 30, 32, 48, and 64, which reflects its evolutionary history of polyploidization and hybridization. The fundamental base ploidy level is represented by the haploid number n, though the species is predominantly known for its ability to exist in various polyploid states, contributing to its widespread adaptability and genetic plasticity.

Chromosome number :

16, 22, 28, 30, 32, 48, 64

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Trifolium repens is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil. In terms of its foliage and seasonal adaptation, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its vegetative presence through varying environmental conditions. This combination of a long-lived perennial nature and a hemicryptophytic structure enables the plant to effectively colonize and stabilize itself within its ecological niche over time.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Trifolium repens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It typically exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation and is a self-supporting plant, rather than a climber or a liana. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism and does not act as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant's stature is relatively low, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.25 m. Furthermore, the shoot length is variable, measuring between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 50 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.25 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot length max:

50 cm

Shoot length min:

5 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Trifolium repens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and environmental adaptations. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system, significantly enhanced by its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, which allows it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. Its leaf morphology plays a vital role in resource acquisition, featuring an alternate leaf arrangement with obovate leaf forms. The leaves exhibit a wide range of dimensions, with lengths varying from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 4.7 cm, and widths spanning from 0.3 cm to 3.6 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 6.82 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 314.43 cm²/g, a physiological trait that reflects its efficiency in balancing light interception and water loss during its growth cycles.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

obovate

Leaf length max:

4.7 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf size mean:

6.82 cm²

Leaf width max:

3.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

314.43 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Trifolium repens is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, though asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period is concentrated around May, featuring red-colored flowers that range in length from 0.7 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically relying on insects and bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen, as self-fertilization is absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscence-type fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules typically have a mean length and width of 0.4 cm. The reproductive output is highly prolific, with a single fruit capable of producing more than 1000 seeds. These seeds are small, with a mean length of 1 mm (ranging from 1 to 1.3 mm) and a mean volume of 0.61 mm³ (varying between 0.58 and 0.64 mm³). The seed mass is also minimal, averaging approximately 0.00060071425 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.000228 g to a maximum of 0.00136 g. Dispersal is categorized as zoochorous, specifically utilizing an epizoochorous mechanism to spread the seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

1.2 cm

Flower length min:

0.7 cm

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width mean:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1.3 mm

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00136 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00060071425 g

Seed mass min:

0.000228 g

Seed volume max:

0.64 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.61 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.58 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Seed

1. Journal of oleo science

Chemicals

Trifolium repens has 59 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include LINAMARIN, Peroxidase, STARCH, trifoliin, ABSCISIC ACID.

LINAMARIN

1. Natural product research
2. Structure (London, England : 1993)

Peroxidase

1. Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

STARCH

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
2. Journal of experimental botany

trifoliin

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta
2. Journal of bacteriology

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Al

1. Journal of AOAC International

Azukisaponin II

1. Phytochemistry

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

CATALASE

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

CD

1. Journal of AOAC International

Activities

Trifolium repens has 82 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Abortifacient.

Antidiabetic

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Natural product research

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Trifolium repens has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Pseudomonas syringae, antidiabetic, eczema, fever, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations