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Trifolium hybridum
Also called Hybrid Clover, Swedish Clover, Spanish Clover
Alsike clover is a perennial forage legume with pale pink, round flower heads, grown as hay or silage and found in fields and roadsides. It thrives in temperate climates and is grown mainly for fodder and soil improvement.
Trifolium hybridum, the alsike clover, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae. The trifoliate leaves are unmarked and the stalked, pale pink or whitish flower head grows from the leaf axils.
Native to Europe, the plant is found in fields and on roadsides. It has been linked with toxicity in horses. It has some agricultural applications due to its ability to lower soil pH.
There is limited evidence of T. hybridum having toxic effects on horses including photosensitization and Alsike clover poisoning. Photosensitivity in horses, also known as alsike rash, is a reversible condition in which the mechanism is unknown. A diet in equestrians of at least 20% T. hybridum over the course of four weeks could lead to poisoning which includes deleterious neurological effects and liver failure. The active toxin is unknown.
The plant can irritate skin if handled.
Originating in mainland Europe, it has become established as an introduced plant in the British Isles and throughout the temperate regions of the world. It is native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia, especially in mountainous regions.
The species has been found to quickly lower soil pH, increasing its viable area of reproduction, whilst reducing the bio-density of weeds by up to 57%. Under the right conditions it may become invasive unless properly managed. With regard to inbreeding, it was found that there were disadvantageous changes to height, persistence, and vigor unless selectively bred for said traits.
Owl-head clover · Kura clover · Showy Indian clover · Narrowleaf crimson clover · Golden clover · Brown clover · Southern clover · Foothill clover · Strawberry clover · Clustered clover · Rose clover · Crimson Clover
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Trifolium hybridum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
