Balansa Clover
Trifolium michelianum
a temperate legume that grows to over 80 cm tall but remains prostrate when grazed with hollow, hairless stems with three hairless trifoliate leaflets. Leaflets are generally plain green while others have white to silver, pink or purple markings, flowers in clusters head 2 - 3 cm in diameter, small white-pink flowers, self-seeding annual, 3-4 Seeds in a Pod which shatter easily on maturity. Used as a part of permanent pastures, or in hay mixtures or cover crops
cons
Not suited to deep sandy soils
Intolerant of moderate to high soil salinity
Slow establishment if sown under cold conditions
pros
Erect or semi-erect, much-branched plant
Grows in temperate climates
Annual rainfall of 350 - 800 mm
Early flowering varieties like lower rainfall,
Later flowering varieties to higher rainfall areas,
Grows successfully under irrigation
Produces a large number of seeds.
Grow in a range of soil types, preferring soils of moderate to high fertility
Excellent waterlogging tolerance
Thrives in a wide range of soil types and pHs - adapted to acid and alkaline soils (pH 5.4 - 9.0) and performs best where pH is below 8.3
Mild salinity tolerance
Self-seeds well on suitable soils under appropriate grazing management.
Good frost tolerance