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Trifolium diffusum

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID643fdf2023cba552761693
Scientific name Trifolium diffusum
Authority Ehrh.
First published in Beitr. Naturk. Verw. Wiss.7: 165 (1792)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Pasture/forage: The leafy herbage of Trifolium diffusum is grazed by livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) in temperate grassland systems; it may be included in pasture mixtures to provide nitrogen fixation and improve animal diet.
- Cover crop/green manure: Because it forms symbiotic root nodules with Rhizobium, the species is used as a low‑input cover crop or green‑manure component to increase soil nitrogen availability for subsequent crops, especially on calcareous soils.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- Livestock feed: The fresh or dried herbage is used as a forage; when growth is sufficient, it may be harvested for silage or hay for winter feeding. No documented human food uses for this taxon.

Properties relevant to use:
- Nitrogen fixation: Trifolium diffusum forms symbiotic root nodules with Rhizobium spp., contributing biologically fixed nitrogen to soils; typical nodulation rates reported for the species in European pasture trials are comparable to other annual Trifolium species, making it valuable for nitrogen enrichment in low‑input systems.
- Nutritive value: The foliage contains relatively high protein (often >15 % of dry matter) and low fiber, providing a palatable and nutritious forage for ruminants. Its low, prostrate growth habit (typically 10‑30 cm tall) offers good ground cover, helping to reduce soil erosion on slopes and poor‑fertility sites.
- Soil adaptation: The species thrives on calcareous, well‑drained soils and tolerates moderate drought, allowing it to persist under low‑input grazing regimes and to survive in semi‑natural grasslands.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Native range: Trifolium diffusum is native to central and western Europe and is a common component of semi‑natural grasslands, meadows and ruderal habitats. Because it occurs widely in natural pastures, it can be sustainably managed through rotational grazing without significant depletion.
- Seed supply: While not a major commercial crop, seed can be harvested from wild stands or obtained from local seed producers; propagation by seed is straightforward, enabling small‑scale provision of local forage. The species is listed in the FAO Grassland Species Database as a minor forage legume, reflecting its role in biodiversity‑friendly pasture improvement.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Trifolium circumscissum Pers. Syn. Pl.2: 349 (1807)
Trifolium ciliosum Thuill. Fl. Env. Paris, ed. 2: 380 (1799)
Trifolium purpurascens Roth Catal. Bot.3: 74 (1806)
Trifolium hirtum subsp. diffusum (Ehrh.) Bonnier Fl. Ill. France3: 40 (1914)
Trifolium pratense subsp. diffusum (Ehrh.) Gibelli & Belli Mem. Reale Accad. Sci. Torino, ser. 2, 39: 313 (1889)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English diffuse clover
Bulgarian разпереностъблена детелина
Czech jetel rozložený
German ausgebreiteter klee
Dutch wijdvertakte klaver

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • Caucasus
      • North Caucasus
      • Transcaucasus
    • Western Asia
      • Turkey
  • Europe
    • Eastern Europe
      • Krym
      • South European Russia
      • Ukraine
    • Middle Europe
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Hungary
    • Southeastern Europe
      • Albania
      • Bulgaria
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Romania
      • Sicilia
      • Yugoslavia
    • Southwestern Europe
      • Baleares
      • Corse
      • France
      • Portugal
      • Sardegna
      • Spain

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000213963
USDA Plants TRDI15
INPN 127291
Flora of Italy 2663
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:523090-1
The Plant List ild-9024
Open Tree Of Life 76064
Observations.org 7568
NCBI Taxonomy 97020
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0200003334
IPNI 523090-1
iNaturalist 595706
GBIF 5358912
EPPO TRFDI
EOL 704111
USDA GRIN 40217
CMAUP NPO14344

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Legumes of the Sardinia Island: Knowledge on Symbiotic and Endophytic Bacteria and Interactive Software Tool for Plant Species Determination Muresu R, Porceddu A, Concheri G, Stevanato P, Squartini A Plants (Basel) 06-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9183093
doi:10.3390/plants11111521
PMID:35684293
Chromosome and Genome Diversity in the Genus Trifolium (Fabaceae) Lukjanová E, Řepková J Plants (Basel) 19-Nov-2021
PMCID:PMC8621578
doi:10.3390/plants10112518
PMID:34834880
Variation in Ribosomal DNA in the Genus Trifolium (Fabaceae) Vozárová R, Macková E, Vlk D, Řepková J Plants (Basel) 25-Aug-2021
PMCID:PMC8465422
doi:10.3390/plants10091771
PMID:34579303
Both trait-neutrality and filtering effects are validated by the vegetation patterns detected in the functional recovery of sand grasslands Török P, Matus G, Tóth E, Papp M, Kelemen A, Sonkoly J, Tóthmérész B Sci Rep 12-Sep-2018
PMCID:PMC6135751
doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32078-x
PMID:30209263
The ‘forma specialis’ issue in Fusarium: A case study in Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi Šišić A, Baćanović-Šišić J, Al-Hatmi AM, Karlovsky P, Ahmed SA, Maier W, de Hoog GS, Finckh MR Sci Rep 19-Jan-2018
PMCID:PMC5775210
doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19779-z
PMID:29352160
Flavonoids ofTrifolium echinatum andT. diffusum K. G. Shalashvili Springer Science and Business Media LLC 26-Nov-2004
doi:10.1007/BF00630553

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines
(-)-Isoboldine 6971182 Click to see 327.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Isoboldine 133323 Click to see 327.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Pavine alkaloids
(-)-Argemonine 442168 Click to see 355.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,12R)-15-methoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-16-ol 12305286 Click to see 325.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,12R)-16-Methoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-15-ol 3082467 Click to see CN1C2CC3=CC4=C(C=C3C1CC5=CC(=C(C=C25)O)OC)OCO4 325.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,12S)-15,16-dimethoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-1-ol 10948236 Click to see 355.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,12S)-23-methyl-5,7,16,18-tetraoxa-23-azahexacyclo[10.10.1.02,10.04,8.013,21.015,19]tricosa-2,4(8),9,13,15(19),20-hexaen-1-ol 11110561 Click to see 339.30 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,9R)-5,12-dimethoxy-17-methyl-17-azatetracyclo[7.7.1.02,7.010,15]heptadeca-2,4,6,10,12,14-hexaene-4,13-diol 11869664 Click to see CN1C2CC3=CC(=C(C=C3C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C24)O)OC)OC)O 327.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,12S,20R)-15-methoxy-20-methyl-20-oxido-5,7-dioxa-20-azoniapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-16-ol 102304441 Click to see C[N+]1(C2CC3=CC(=C(C=C3C1CC4=CC5=C(C=C24)OCO5)OC)O)[O-] 341.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,12S,20R)-16-methoxy-20-methyl-20-oxido-5,7-dioxa-20-azoniapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-15-ol 102304443 Click to see 341.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,12S)-15-methoxy-20-methyl-5,7-dioxa-20-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,10.04,8.013,18]icosa-2,4(8),9,13,15,17-hexaen-16-ol 11823545 Click to see 325.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,12S)-5,7,16,18-tetraoxa-23-azahexacyclo[10.10.1.02,10.04,8.013,21.015,19]tricosa-2,4(8),9,13,15(19),20-hexaene 11012304 Click to see 309.30 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,9S)-4,13-dimethoxy-17-methyl-17-azatetracyclo[7.7.1.02,7.010,15]heptadeca-2(7),3,5,10,12,14-hexaene-3,12-diol 92856799 Click to see CN1C2CC3=C(C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C24)O)OC)C(=C(C=C3)OC)O 327.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(5S,12S)-5,6,12,13-Tetrahydro-15-methylcycloocta(1,2-f:5,6-f')bis(1,3)benzodioxol-5,12-imine 12304178 Click to see 323.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Caryachine 44575219 Click to see 325.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Crychine 193382 Click to see 323.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Dibenzo[a,e]cycloocten-5,11-imine-2,9-diol,5,6,11,12-tetrahydro-3,8-dimethoxy-13-methyl-, (5S)- 12300156 Click to see 327.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Proaporphines
(1'S,2S,4R)-10-methoxy-5-methylspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,4'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1',11-diol 10870351 Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC34CCC(C=C4)O)O)OC 301.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(2S,4R)-10,11-dimethoxy-5-methylspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,4'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1'-one 12306127 Click to see 313.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(2S,4R)-10,11-dimethoxyspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,4'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1'-one 13819281 Click to see 299.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Protoberberine alkaloids and derivatives
Berberine 2353 Click to see 336.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
Tocopherol quinone 2734086 Click to see 446.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
Squalene 638072 Click to see 410.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans
Cryptocaryone 10379026 Click to see 282.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives
6-Methyl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-6-ium 2753983 Click to see 188.20 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Benzylisoquinolines
4-[(6,7-Dimethoxyisoquinolin-1-yl)methyl]phenol 21814573 Click to see 295.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Isoquinolones and derivatives
Doryanin 12998814 Click to see 203.19 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrans / Pyranones and derivatives / Dihydropyranones
7-O-Methylcryptochinone A 46939685 Click to see COC1CC2=C(C3C1OC(=O)C3)C(=O)CC(O2)C4=CC=CC=C4 314.30 unknown via CMAUP database
7-O-Methylcryptochinone B 46939686 Click to see 314.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Cryptocaryanone A 10356404 Click to see 282.29 unknown via CMAUP database
Cryptochinone A 46939683 Click to see 300.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Cryptochinone B 46939684 Click to see 300.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Tetrahydroisoquinolines
(1'S,2R,4R)-10,11-dimethoxy-5-methylspiro[5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodeca-1(12),8,10-triene-2,6'-cyclohex-2-ene]-1'-ol 10914050 Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC34CCC=CC4O)OC)OC 315.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
Hexacosyl (E)-ferulate 5318033 Click to see 558.90 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones
(-)-7-Hydroxyflavanone 688857 Click to see 240.25 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols
(2R,3S)-2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-Trihydroxy-2,3-Dihydrochromen-4-One 712318 Click to see 304.25 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
(-)-Pinostrobin 73201 Click to see 270.28 unknown via CMAUP database
5-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone 5748697 Click to see 298.29 unknown via CMAUP database
Mosloflavone 471722 Click to see COC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)OC(=CC2=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O)OC 298.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 8-O-methylated flavonoids
5-Hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone 21632881 Click to see 328.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavonoid O-glycosides
5-Hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl hexopyranoside 5358913 Click to see 446.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630553
Sissotrin 5280781 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O 446.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630553
Sissotrin with HPLC, 99+% [5928-26-7] 45934014 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O 446.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630553
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylisoflavones
Biochanin A 5280373 Click to see 284.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630553
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxychalcones
2',4'-Dihydroxy-3'-methoxychalcone 9993268 Click to see 270.28 unknown via CMAUP database

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