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Subterranean Clover
Subterranean Clover n - An annual legume with the ability to bury its own seed
This is an annual species with a hairy, broad and heart shaped trifoliate leaves, with some distinctive leaf marks. After germinating in Autumn, the seedling rosettes produce long, horizontal stems during late winter and spring, which bear only 3 - 6 white florets in each flower head.
This legume is named for its ability to bury its seed. The seed heads bend down and the burrs are pushed into the soils surface after flowering, so it survives the summer as a seed. However, as an annual, the plant disappears from pastures during summer. The seeds germinate when rainfall resumes, but some can die during the subsequent dry spell (‘false strike’). The percentage of hard seed produced will influence a cultivar’s ability for ‘false strikes’.
Sub Clover is useful in dry East Coast regions, particularly in situations too dry for White Clover, where it can contribute more than 20% of the herbage. However, it is important to minimise grazing during flowering to allow maximum seed set and to use cultivars with an appropriate flowering time to ensure it sets seed prior to the dry summer.
Campeda Subterranean Clover
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- Mid season maturity
- Excellent seed regeneration
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Denmark Subterranean Clover
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- Late season maturity
- Good seed regeneration
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Leura Subterranean Clover
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- Average seed regeneration
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Goulburn Subterranean Clover
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- Late season maturity
- Good seed regeneration
- Suited to higher rainfall
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