Alsike Clover

Latin Name: Trifolium hybridum

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Taproot
  • Palmately compound trifoliolate leaves
  • Smooth leaflets
  • Serrated leaflet edges
  • No watermark on leaflet
  • Prominent upright stipules
  • Pinkish white flowers
  • Head inflorescence

Plant Longevity:

  • Perennial

Where Commonly Found:

  • Moist areas
  • Poorly drained soils

Time of Most Concern:

  • Spring through fall

Compound that Causes Concern:

  • Not known

Part of Plant Most Toxic:

  • All green vegetation

Livestock Species Affected:

  • Swine (photosensitization)
  • Sheep (photosensitization)
  • Horses (photosensitization, suspected liver disease)
  • Cattle (photosensitization)

Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:

  • Both

Clinical Signs:

  • Two clinical syndromes have been recognized: photosensitization and liver disease. Debate exists about whether alsike clover is the true/only feed component needed to induce liver disease in horses.
  • Photosensitization (sunburn)
  • Liver disease
    • Drooling
    • Diarrhea
    • Loss of appetite
    • Jaundice

Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:

  • Unknown

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Taproot
  • Palmately compound trifoliolate leaves
  • Smooth leaflets
  • Serrated leaflet edges
  • No watermark on leaflet
  • Prominent upright stipules
  • Pinkish white flowers
  • Head inflorescence

Plant Longevity:

  • Perennial

Where Commonly Found:

  • Moist areas
  • Poorly drained soils

Time of Most Concern:

  • Spring through fall

Compound that Causes Concern:

  • Not known

Part of Plant Most Toxic:

  • All green vegetation

Livestock Species Affected:

  • Swine (photosensitization)
  • Sheep (photosensitization)
  • Horses (photosensitization, suspected liver disease)
  • Cattle (photosensitization)

Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:

  • Both

Clinical Signs:

  • Two clinical syndromes have been recognized: photosensitization and liver disease. Debate exists about whether alsike clover is the true/only feed component needed to induce liver disease in horses.
  • Photosensitization (sunburn)
  • Liver disease
    • Drooling
    • Diarrhea
    • Loss of appetite
    • Jaundice

Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:

  • Unknown
Toxic Plants Home Alsike Clover Black Cherry Buttercup Carolina Horsenettle Cocklebur Common Milkweed Cressleaf Groundsel Dallisgrass Eastern Black Nightshade Hemp Dogbane Jimsonweed Johnsongrass Perilla Mint Poison Hemlock Pokeweed Redroot Pigweed Star of Bethlehem Tall Fescue White Clover White Snakeroot Yew