Rotklee

Rotklee, or red clover (Trifolium pratense), is a flowering plant in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is a perennial herb with erect stems that commonly reach 20 to 60 cm in height, though taller specimens can occur. The leaves are trifoliate, each leaflet bearing a pale, V-shaped mark. The inflorescences are dense heads of pink to purplish flowers that bloom from late spring to summer.

Rotklee is native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia, but it has been widely cultivated and naturalized in temperate regions around the world, including North America, Africa, and parts of Australasia. It is valued as a nitrogen-fixing legume, forming root nodules with Rhizobium bacteria to enrich soils and improve subsequent crops. In agriculture, it is commonly used in pastures and mixed swards, often with grasses, and can serve as a forage crop for cattle, sheep, and goats, as well as for hay or silage.

The plant contains isoflavones such as formononetin and biochanin A, which are studied for phytoestrogenic properties. These compounds have drawn interest for their potential effects on human health and livestock reproduction, but evidence is mixed and they are not a substitute for medical treatment or veterinary guidance.

Management considerations include the risk of bloat in ruminants when consumed as fresh forage, which can be mitigated by grazing management and mixing with other forage. Rotklee is also used as a cover crop and contributor to soil structure and biodiversity in temperate ecosystems.