View source for Hop Trefoil

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Hop Trefoil
| image = Trpr7_001_svd.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| genus = ''[[Clover|Trifolium]]''
| species = '''''T. campestre'''''
| binomial = ''Trifolium campestre''
| binomial_authority = [[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber|Schreb.]]
}}

'''''Trifolium campestre''''', commonly known as '''Hop Trefoil''' and '''Low Hop Clover''', is a species of [[clover]] native to [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]], growing in most areas, but specifically thriving on dry, sandy [[grassland]] habitats, as well as in fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land. The species name ''campestre'' means "of the fields".

It is a herbaceous [[biennial]] or [[annual plant]], growing to 10-30 cm tall, with distinctive yellow [[inflorescence|flowerheads]] that superficially resemble [[Hop (plant)|Hop]] flowers.  Each flowerhead is a cylindrical or spherical collection of 20-40 individual [[flower]]s. The flowers become brown upon aging and drying. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate and trifoliate, with three oblong or elliptical leaflets 4-10 mm long. 

This species is very closely related to [[Large Hop Trefoil]] (''Trifolium aureum'').

===Cultivation and uses===
Hop trefoil is the third most important clover in [[agriculture]] because its foliage is good for feeding [[livestock]] and replenishing [[soil]]. It is not generally planted, but is considered a valuable [[herb]] when found growing in a pasture. It has become [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] in [[North America]], particularly in the west and south of the continent.

== References ==
*[http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Plantae/Dicotyledoneae/Fabaceae/Trifolium/campestre/ ''Trifolium campestre''] 
* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~weeds/western_weeds/fabaceae_4.htm FABACEAE - Pea Family]
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Hop_clovers.html Purdue New Crops: Hop clovers]
* Ajilvsgi, Geyata. (2003). ''Wildflowers of Texas.'' Shearer Publishing, Fredericksburg, Texas. ISBN 0-940672-73-1.

[[Category:Faboideae]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Estonia]]
[[Category:Flora of the United Kingdom]]