Another of the varied plants that grows on Clifton Ings, York, is clover, and there is quite a lot in flower at the moment.
Clover or trefoil are common names for plants of the genus Trifolium (Latin, tres "three" + folium "leaf"), consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume or pea family Fabaceae. They are widely distributed in the temperate northern hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes on mountains in the tropics.
Several species of clover are extensively cultivated as fodder plants. Clover, either sown alone or in mixture with ryegrass, has for a long time formed a staple crop for silaging, for several reasons: it grows freely, shooting up again after repeated mowings; it produces an abundant crop; it is palatable to and nutritious for livestock; it fixes nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers; it grows in a great range of soils and climates; and it is appropriate for either pasturage or green composting. Clover is also a source of nectar and is popular with beekeepers (and their bees!).
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
Clover is often overlooked, or is a nuisance in a lawn, but up close it's an attractive flower. The problem taking this shot was finding a gap in a mass of clover to get a shot of a single flower.
Thank you Sarah, and what a lovely memory for you. I grew up near a steelworks and coking plant so sucking any local clover would have been something of a health risk!
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
Clover is often overlooked, or is a nuisance in a lawn, but up close it's an attractive flower. The problem taking this shot was finding a gap in a mass of clover to get a shot of a single flower.
Ian
Thank you Sarah, and what a lovely memory for you. I grew up near a steelworks and coking plant so sucking any local clover would have been something of a health risk!
Ian
Thank you, glad you like it!
Ian