The partitioning of dry matter into component plant parts has been traced for four legumes. The four species were chosen to represent different positions along ther-K continuum. Three of the species,Medicago lupulina, M. sativa, andTrifolium pratense, behaved essentially as predicted byr- and K-selection theory. However, the stolons ofT. repensare formed within 7 weeks of germination and thus permit this species to reproduce sooner thanMedicago lupulinacan reproduce by seed. In this way,T. repenscan behave as anrstrategist in an environment imposing density-dependent regulation (a ‘K' type environment).