Family: Fabaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Trifolium arvense (hare-foot clover or rabbit-foot clover) is a small annual clover native to Macaronesia, Europe, North Africa, and a broad region extending through Central Asia to Iran and northeastern tropical Africa. It is easily recognized by its narrow, hairy leaves and distinctive soft, fuzzy flower heads that resemble a rabbit’s foot. Like many clovers, it has been introduced outside its native range for forage, pasture improvement, erosion control, and as a nitrogen-fixing plant that can improve soil fertility. It is also occasionally grown as an ornamental or included in wildflower seed mixes.

Risks & Threats
Hare-foot clover is naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, where it occurs in disturbed habitats ranging from arid to wet environments, including roadsides, lava flows, and open meadows at elevations of approximately 850–2,740 m on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. Its ability to establish readily in disturbed sites, produce abundant seed, and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions are traits that are cause for concern. Although generally associated with disturbed habitats, it has the potential to spread into additional open areas and contribute to changes in plant communities, potentially impacting tropical island ecosystems. Because this species is already established in parts of Hawaiʻi, further planting and intentional spread should be avoided, particularly in areas where it is not yet widespread. Whenever possible, choose a low-risk or native alternative for landscaping, restoration, or forage plantings to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Possibly naturalizing on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (confirmation needed)
  
• Latex highly caustic to the skin, possibly poisonous if ingested
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally by people
  
• Seeds able to be stored for extended periods; May form a persistent seed bank
  
• Able to coppice and resprout after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization (with the possible exception of Oahu(), but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
  
• Ornamental
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Limited ecological information makes accurate risk prediction difficult