By Sara Ogan
Many of us are familiar with the white clover growing in our lawns or the yellow sweet clover growing in rangelands, but did you know that South Dakota has several native prairie clovers that are beneficial for pollinators, birds, and wildlife and add beauty and variety to our landscapes?
South Dakota prairie clovers (Dalea spp., aka Petalostemum spp.) are not true clovers (Trifolium spp). Rather, they are native herbaceous plants in the legume family. These legumes have long taproots and compound leaves that are attached alternately on thin stems. Prairie clovers tend to be very fragrant and produce many flowers on dense spikes. Flower colors range from white and yellow to purple depending on species. In typical legume fashion, they fix nitrogen into the soil and provide good livestock forage. They have also had ethnobotanical uses among Indigenous peoples of North America for many years. In addition to being drought resistant, pollinators such as native bees and butterflies are nourished by the clover nectar while birds and other animals eat the seeds.
The genus name, Dalea, honors the English botanist, Samuel Dale. The specific species' names describe the unique and varied flowers among the genera, but their differences go beyond floral characteristics. Each species prefers specific growing conditions, has unique uses, and exudes a distinctive fragrance. One fun way to experience the species differences is by rubbing the leaves together in your hands and deciding whether they smell like pine, lemons, or oranges!
Source : sdstate.edu