Sweet Clover

Fabaceae

LIFE FORM: Biennial

NATIVITY: Eurasia

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

A tall, robust plant that grows up to 8 feet tall under favorable conditions.

FLOWERS:

White, pea-like flowers terminate the ends of all the branches at the end of its second season.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Self-sows readily.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

Minimally maintained public parks and open space; vacant lots and rubble dump sites; abandoned grasslands (meadows); unmowed highway banks and median strips with frequent salt applications; railroad tracks with ballast substrate.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Disturbance-adapted colonizer.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

This plant was intentionally introduced from Europe as fodder for livestock; it is also used medicinally in Europe.