Bild folgtKI-generierte IllustrationTrifolium subterraneum
Trifolium subterraneum
FamilyGenus: Kleeheimisch in Deutschland
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5
Species
interact
🔗
8
Interactions
documented
About this species
Trifolium subterraneum is a native annual clover of dry, sunny habitats. This low-growing, prostrate plant produces small flower heads that, after flowering, bend down and bury the developing fruits in the soil. It reaches about 10 cm in height and blooms from May to September.
Ecological network
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PollinationFlower visit
Ecological significance
As a native annual, this species forms part of the natural flora.
Annual cycle
Flowers from May to September. After flowering, the fruiting heads bend down and may become partially buried in the soil, where the seeds ripen.
Safety note
No known hazards.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Sonne
Moisture
Trocken
Soil
—
Bloom time
Mai – Sep
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Krautige Pflanze
Woodiness
Nicht verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Plant height
0.104 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
Thrives in full sun and dry, well-drained soil. Avoid waterlogged or saline soils.
Scientific profile
Trifolium subterraneum is a native annual herb in the pea family. It is prostrate and hairy, with long-stalked, trifoliate leaves; the leaflets are obcordate, typically 1–2 cm wide, and resemble those of Oxalis. The inflorescences are axillary, stalked heads bearing a few fertile flowers and several sterile ones. After flowering, the pedicels reflex, pressing the developing fruiting head against the soil surface; the head may become partially buried, a distinctive self-burying behaviour that aids seed placement. The plant grows to around 10 cm tall, has broad leaves and a non-woody stem. It prefers full sunlight and dry, low-nutrient soils, and tolerates low levels of salinity. It shows a preference for warmer conditions. The root system forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. Seed mass averages about 6.4 mg. Flowering extends from May to September. In Great Britain the species is considered a native wild plant.
Bestäuber & Besucher
4 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze
Papilio machaonPolyommatus fulgensPolyommatus humedasaeHesperia comma
Sources & data origin
•TRY v6.0 / Dataset 516 Czech flora flowering months (via public Request 47350) — CC BY 4.0Data delivery and licence basis: TRY request 47350 (Public, Data Released, TRY v6.0; 2026-02-15) under current TRY public-trait IP Guidelines. Cite TRY: Kattge et al. (2020), doi:10.1111/gcb.14904. Attribute original reference: Kaplan, Z. et al. (eds.) (2019). Klíč ke květeně České republiky, 2nd ed., Academia, Praha.
•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)
•Middleton-Welling_2020
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible. Attribution according to license terms. Full source overview →