THE CLOVERS 



269 



ALSIKE CLOVER 



Alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum, is a native of Europe 

 and gets its name from the village of Syke or Alsike in 

 Sweden. It is also sometimes called Swedish clover. 

 Alsike clover was formerly thought to be a hybrid from 

 the crossing of white 

 and red clovers, but 

 it is now known to be 

 a distinct species. It 

 was introduced into 

 the United States 

 many years ago, and 

 it is now grown 

 throughout the 

 Northern States of 

 this country except 

 in the arid regions of 

 the West, and in 

 southern Canada. 



270. Description. 

 Alsike clover is 

 more perennial in its 

 character than red 

 clover, sometimes living for 5 or 6 years. It resembles 

 red clover in its manner of growth and white clover 

 in the appearance of its leaves and blossom. Its root 

 system is more fibrous than that of red clover, and it 

 does not heave as badly. The roots are not as large 

 and usually do not extend so deeply into the ground 

 as those of red clover. The branches are more slender 

 and, when grown on fertile soils, are inclined to be 

 decumbent at the base. The nodes, coming in contact 



FIG. 95. Alsike clover. Note manner 

 of branching. 



