Trifolium ciliatum
Nutt.
Foothill clover
gbif· cc-by
GBIF
gbif· cc-by-nc
Malik Vest-Walton
gbif· cc-by-nc
beanmom
Summary
An annual reaching 0.5 m with hermaphroditic insect-pollinated flowers. Fixes nitrogen in soil. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils preferring drainage; tolerates poor soil nutrition across mildly acidic, neutral, and basic pH. Requires full sun and cannot grow in shade. Thrives in moist soil.
Description
An annual reaching 0.5 m with hermaphroditic insect-pollinated flowers. Fixes nitrogen in soil. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils preferring drainage; tolerates poor soil nutrition across mildly acidic, neutral, and basic pH. Requires full sun and cannot grow in shade. Thrives in moist soil.
Edible Uses
Leaves are edible raw or cooked and can be dried for later use. The seed is edible raw or cooked — it can be sprouted and added to salads, or dried and ground into a powder to use as a thickener in soups or mixed with cereals when making bread.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. They leaves can be dried and used later. The seeds can be sprouted and used in salads. The seeds can also be ground and used as a thickener in soups.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows on slopes and grassy valleys of open forests in western North America.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil in full sun. Succeeds in poor soils. It grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that stores better. It should not be grown with camellias or gooseberries because it harbours a mite that can cause fruit drop in the gooseberries and premature budding in the camellias. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. Buttercups growing nearby depress the growth of the nitrogen bacteria by means of a root exudate. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
Propagation
Pre-soak seed for 12 hours in warm water, then sow in spring in situ. If seed is scarce, sow into pots in a cold frame instead. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings into individual pots and plant out after the last expected frosts.
Other Uses
Acts as a dynamic accumulator.
Notes
There are about 240 Trifolium species. They are mostly temperate.
Synonyms
References (3)
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
- Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 273
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
