- Reference
- Sp.Pl. [Linnaeus] 2:769 (1753)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Alien to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Erect or ascending annual, herb, 0.2-0.5 m high. Fl. red/white, Oct to Nov. Laterite loam.
Distribution
- IBRA Regions
- Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
- IBRA Subregions
- Katanning, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
- Local Government Areas (LGAs)
- Armadale, Augusta Margaret River, Claremont, Harvey, Mundaring, Murray, Narrogin, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Swan, Williams.
Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)
Alternative Names. Crimson Clover, Italian Clover, French Clover, Carnation Clover.
General Biology. Growth form. Herb. Life form. Annual. Reproduction. Seed. Toxicity. Can be posionous to mammals. Seedbank persistence. Short, less 1- 2 years.
Notes. Adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, more so than other annual forage Trifolium species, although not to poorly-drained or saline soils. Has vigorous seedling growth and strong late autumn and winter growth. Matures in early spring. Because of the high production of soft-coated seed and rapid loss of dormancy, germination can occur in summer rather than in the autumn.
Additional information. Origin. Macronesia, temperate Asia, Europe. History of use/introduction. Forage, bee plant, soil improver, erosion control. Similar exotic species. Trifolium species.
Suggested method of management and control. Spot spray with 1% glyphosate before flowering, otherwise spot spray Lontrel® 3 ml/10 L (150 ml/ha) up to 6 leaf stage. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Management Calendar
| Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | O | O | O | Y | Y | Y | |||||||
| Active Growth | O | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
| Flowering | Y | Y | |||||||||||
| Fruiting | Y | Y | |||||||||||
| Optimum Treatment | O | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
- Bulinska-Radomska, Z. (2002) Reproductive biology, genetic diversity and population structure of Trifolium species. In Broad variation and precise characterization - limitation for the future. Proceedings of the XVIth EUCARPIA Genetic Resources Section workshop, Poznan, Poland, 16-20 May 2001. 2002. 156-161.
- Can, E., Celiktas, N., Hatipoglu, R. & Avci, S. (2009) Breaking seed dormancy of some annual Medicago and Trifolium species by different treatments. Turkish Journal of Field Crops, 14 (2): 72-78.
- Frame, J. (Undated) Trifolium species L. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations URL: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/gbase/Default.htm - Accessed May 2010.
- Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
- Thomas, B.D. & Bowman, W.D. (1998) Influence of N2-fixing Trifolium on plant species composition in the alpine tundra. Oecologia, 115 (1/2): 26-31.
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (2009) Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx - Accessed October 2009.