- Description:
Many slender, upright stems grow from a single base. Leaves are ½-1½ inches long
with five gland-dotted, narrow leaflets. Tiny, reddish-purple flowers open on a dense,
cylindrical head.
- Comments:
This native legume is high in protein content and is eaten by domestic and wild grazers.
Prairie-clover will decrease on heavily-grazed native pastures. The flowers attract many
insects including wasps, flies, beetles, skippers, green metallic bees, leaf-cutting bees
and bumble bees. Purple Prairie-clover is host to a type of bee that requires the pollen
of this species only, in order to develop properly. Like other legumes, prairie-clovers
add nitrogen to the soil. Purple Prairie-clover is found throughout Kansas on rocky, open
prairies. White Prairie-clover is a similar species with white flowers and somewhat larger
leaves.
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