File:Trifolium subterraneum plant DC2.jpg

English: Introduced cool-season annual hairy herbaceous C3 legume, with short taproots and prostrate to sprawling stems. Leaves have 3 heart-shaped leaflets on stalks of equal length; they also have variable white and brown markings which depend on plant variety and time of year. Flowerheads consist of clusters of 3-6 white (rarely pinkish), pea-like flowers. Depending on variety, seedheads are either pushed into cracks or buried in the ground. Flowers from late winter to early summer. A native of Europe and the Mediterranean region, it is widely sown in pastures and naturally occurs in disturbed areas of lawns, roadsides and grasslands. Best suited legume for large areas of southern Australia and sown over millions of hectares. Suited to permanent and semi-permanent pastures and cropping rotations. There are 3 distinct subspecies: 1) subterranean – suited to well-drained, slightly acid soils; 2) yanninicum - tolerates intermittent waterlogging and poorly drained conditions and; 3) brachycalycinum - suited to neutral to alkaline soils. Fixes nitrogen and produces high quality feed from autumn to spring but can cause bloat. Requires medium to high soil fertility, particularly phosphorus, sulfur and molybdenum. Tolerant of heavy grazing. Grasses needs to be well grazed in late summer and early autumn to remove residues and aid the germination and growth of clover seedlings.