Morphological and flowering variation of Trifolium dubium Sibth

Abstract

The morphology, flowering, survival to maturity, and re-establishment of 28 New Zealand and overseas lines of suckling clover (Trifolium dubium Sibth) were examined. Significant differences between lines were shown for leaf size, plant spread, leaf density, time of flowering, and survival at peak flowering in the first year. In the second year, there were no significant differences between lines for occurrence and leaf density. Forty lines of suckling clover derived from buried seed collected from three experimental farmlets of different fertiliser input and stocking management were also compared. Lines from the low fertiliser, rotationally grazed cattle farmlet had the greatest spread in November. Lines from the low fertiliser, rotationally grazed sheep farmlet were the densest in November. Peak flowering of most lines occurred in November, with no lines flowering in August and only three flowering in October. The earliest flowering lines included two from Portugal and one of unknown origin. The three latest flowering lines, with less than 30% of plants flowering in November, came from the United States, New Zealand, and France.

Keywords:

• suckling clover
• plant introductions
• variation
• Trifolium dubium Sibth