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Growth of Birdsfoot Trefoil and Alfalfa. IL Morphological Development and Dry Matter Distribution¹

Dry weight increases of ‘Empire’ birdsfoot trefoil plants were primarily from the production of topgrowth. In contrast, roots and crowns of alfalfa also increased in weight during the season.

Trefoil developed a higher number of axillary branches on the shoots than did alfalfa during spring and summer. Branching of trefoil shoots continued after the plants began to flower and gave it an incessant habit of growth. Both species had few branches during autumn.

The spring growth of both species originated from the crown. Subsequent regrowth (buds and shoots) of alfalfa arose at nodes on the stem bases as the tops approached maturity. Regrowth of trefoil began after cutting, was slower than alfalfa, and came largely from axillary buds at nodes on the upper ends of the cut shoots. Few buds on the crowns of trefoil developed into shoots during summer. Shoots of both species acted as winter annuals. Buds on the bases of the cut spring shoots enlarged during autumn, overwintered, and produced the initial growth of the next spring.

Key Words: crown development • axillary buds and branches

² Formerly research assistant (now Assistant Professor of Agronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia) and Professor of Agronomy, Wisconsin Agr. Exp. Station, 53706.

Received for publication January 30, 1967.