| DESCRIPTION: A herbaceous, self-regenerating legume. Habit prostrate as a single plant, becoming semi-erect in dense swards. Leaves trifoliate. Inflorescence umbellate, 20-30 mm in diameter with 35-55 flowers. Corolla white-pink, 9-13 mm long. USE: Grazing, and haymaking. GROWING PERIOD: Winter growing annual. Swards mature and die in late spring but regenerate from seed reserves in autumn following the summer drought. COMMON NAMES: Balansa clover. FURTHER INF: Adapted to regions with predominantly Mediterranean or temperate climates, hot dry summers, moist, cool winters. Best growth are obtained at temperatures between 20-25°C and plants are tolerant of frosts in winter (-6°C). Require annual rainfall between 350 and 750 mm. It is tolerant of extensive periods of waterlogging once established but young seedlings are sensitive to prolonged submersion. It has moderate tolerance of salinity. It prefers pH neutral soils of moderate to high fertility, but is tolerant of wide range of soil including heavy clays through to red brown earths, alluvial soils and solodised solentz with pH between 4.5-8.0. It is not suited to infertile sands It is moderate tolerant of high soil aluminium levels. Herbage yields of 5-6 t/ha are achievable under dryland conditions and 7-8 t/ha under irrigation. |