Clovers
White clover (Trifolium repens)
Leaf – 3 green leaflets, 4 if you are lucky!
Flower – May to October, white or pink heads on a slender stalk
Root – fibrous, though a tap root may be produced
Habitat – dry soils lacking in nitrogen
Clovers are members of the pea family, provide nectar for bees and butterflies and are encouraged by both water shortage and nitrogen shortage. Several species are commonly found in lawns, especially white clover which is found in a variety of conditions and can adapt to close mowing.
White clover spreads rapidly by seeds and also runners which creep along the surface and root at intervals forming new plants. White clover is often found in dry soils that are deficient in nutrients. It may produce a tap root and has the ability to draw nitrogen from the atmosphere and store it in the root nodes.