Trifolium repens, the white clover, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the bean family Fabaceae (otherwise known as Leguminosae).

It has been widely introduced worldwide as a forage crop, and is now also common in most grassy areas (lawns and gardens) of North America, Australia and New Zealand.

[citation needed] It is native in Europe and Central Asia, ubiquitous throughout the British Isles,[16] introduced in North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and elsewhere, and globally cultivated as a forage crop.

As part of the Global Urban Evolution Project (GLUE) scientists from 26 countries examined the production of cyanide by over 110,000 clover plants from 160 cities.

Among forage plants, some white clover varieties tend to be favored by rather close grazing, because of their stoloniferous habit,[36][37] which can contribute to competitive advantage.

White clover grows well as a companion plant among lawns, grain crops, pasture grasses, and vegetable rows.

[14] It is often added to lawn seed mixes, as it is able to grow and provide green cover in poorer soils where turfgrasses do not perform well.

[14] As a leguminous and hardy plant, it is considered to be a beneficial component of natural or organic pasture management and lawn care due to its ability to fix nitrogen and out-compete weeds.

Besides making an excellent forage crop for livestock,[39] its leaves and flowers are a valuable survival food: they are high in proteins, and are widespread and abundant.

[citation needed] They are not easy for humans to digest raw, but, this is however easily fixed by boiling the harvested plants for 5–10 minutes.