Red Clover
(Trifolium pratense)
Adopted on February 1, 1895.
No. 159 of the Acts of 1894,
effective February 1, 1895, designated
the Red Clover, Trifolium pratense,
as the official State Flower. Both an
integral part of many a cultivated hay
field and a common sight along numerous
Vermont roadsides, the Red Clover is
symbolic of Vermont's scenic countryside
generally and of its dairy farms in
particular. Oddly enough, however,
Trifolium pratense is not a native of
Vermont but was "naturalized" from
Europe.
From Office of the Secretary of
State, Vermont Legislative Directory
and State Manual, Biennial Session,
1993-1994, p. 15.
- Longevity: Perennial
(acts as Biennial)
- Palatability: High
- Winter Hardiness: Good
- Drought Tolerance: Fair
- Cool or Warm Season: Cool
- Bloat Hazard: Yes
- Use and Comments:
Excellent pasture renovation crop,
short-termhay crop.
- Distribution in U.S.:
Eastern half and Northwest.
- Height: 12-36 inches.
- Leaves: Palmately
trifoliolate; leaflets not serrated;
inverted V-shaped "water mark"
usually present; large stipules;
stems leaves and petioles pubescent.
- Inflorescence: Heads
consisting of up to 125 flowers;
rose purple or deep purplish-red;
heads nested in 2-3 leaves.
- Roots: Taproot.
- Soil
- Drainage: Somewhat
Poorly Drained
- Fertility: Medium
- pH: 6.2-6.8
- Seed
- Color: Pure yellow tp
purple
- Shape: Shortened mit
- Pounds Per Bushel: 60
- Seeds Per Pound:
275,000
- Seeding Rate: 8-10
pounds PLS per acre.
- Emergence Time (Days):
7
- Optimum Germ. Temp. (F):
70
Taxonomic Hierarchy
|
Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
Superdivision |
Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
Division |
Magnoliophyta –
Flowering plants |
Class |
Magnoliopsida –
Dicotyledons |
Subclass |
Rosidae – |
Order |
Fabales – |
Family |
Fabaceae – Pea family |
Genus |
Trifolium L. –
clover |
Species |
Trifolium pratense L.
– red clover |
|