Family: Fabaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- A temperate plant that can grow in subtropical climates
- Naturalized on Maui and Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands, and widely naturalized elsewhere
- A lawn and disturbance weed that may have adverse impacts on agriculture and the natural environment (but not considered a problem in the Hawaiian Islands)
- Other Trifolium species are invasive weeds
- Consumption by animals may cause problems in certain situations
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types (potential to invade not limited by substrate)
- Reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rooting at nodes
- A biennial, but may reach maturity in < 1 year in some areas
- Seeds dispersed internally and externally by animals, by water, and both accidentally and intentionally by people
- Seeds form a persistent seed bank. Some seeds may persist for 20-30+ years.
- May tolerate some mowing and grazing
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite naturalization and reports of weediness, generally not regarded as a problematic agricultural or environmental weed in the Hawaiian Islands
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Mostly self-incompatible (although selfing has been documented in some cloned plants)
- Herbicides may provide effective control if removal is desired
