Trifolium dubium (?) between the oxalis.
While taking pictures of oxalis, I came across another clover-like plant (it had three leaflets, anyway) and decided to check it out. In the process I followed several rabbit trails and decided to cover the 300 or so species of clover in one fell swoop...at least hit some highlights. Members of this large family are on the weed/beneficial line. It depends on the situation. We are surrounded by a variety of clovers but as busy adults we don't have the time to stop and notice them but we probably all have some memories that involve these humble little plants such as attempting to suck the nectar from the tubular flower petals.
The official name of the genus these plants in the legume family is Trifolium which comes from the Latin, tres, meaning “three” and folium which means “leaf.” When it’s translated to English, “three leaves” it doesn’t sound like such an intimidating name.
Trifolium dubium
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I originally thought my discovery among the oxalis was Trifolium dubium, also known as lesser trefoil or lesser hop trefoil, often named as the traditional Irish shamrock…like many, many other three-leafed plants. However, I discovered it could be the black medic, Medicago Lupulina, also referred to as hop clover — they look practically identical to me even though the black medic is more closely related to alfalfa. Medicago comes from the tradition that it came from ancient Media. Lupulina means "wolf-like" again referring to hops which has been called the "willow wolf. "
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Black medic (Medicago Lupulina)
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Then I discovered that the Trifolium dubium is actually thought to be a cross between Trifolium campestre and the obscure, Trifolium micranthum... whatever that is. I’m no botanist so I’m just going to lump all the little yellow-flowered, clover-like plants that grow as weeds into one group. These members of the clover family are generally annuals.
I remember as a kid making paths through these types of weeds and wild chamomile to drive our Matchbox cars beside the gravel road in front of our house.  Trifolium repens
By far the most familiar clover is the common white clover, Trifolium repens. The common white clover is a perennial, low-growing plant with white flowers often tipped with pink. It is native to Europe but has been introduced worldwide for lawns. It is now found in most grassy areas from North American to New Zealand.
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Trifolium capestre
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The common white clover spreads by seeds as well as stolons, stems which function as "runners" that will form a mat of clover. The runners grow and spread along the ground up to seven inches a season, rooting along the way to form new plants. If you are trying to pull up it’s easy to leave pieces of the runners or new plants behind to continue to spread. If left in the ground the plant will develop a deep tap root even more difficult to pull the next year.
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There is a lot of folklore surrounding the four-leaf clover. According one legend, Eve is said to have carried a four-leaf clover with her when she left the Garden of Eden making a four-leafed clover a connection to Paradise. The ancient Druids of Ireland believed that four-leaf clovers offered magical protection and Christians after St. Patrick was said to have used the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity, thought the four-leaf clover represented the cross.
The Irish often say that Ireland has more four-leaf clovers than anywhere else in the world which is the foundation for the saying, the “luck of the Irish.” The four leaves are said to represent faith, hope, love and luck. |
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However, clovers can have even more than four leaves. Five-leaf clovers are even less common than four-leaf clovers, but they have been successfully cultivated. While some clover collectors think finding a five-leaf clover is a great prize, others believe the five-leaf clovers are actually bad luck! Ironically, it is said that the fifth leaf represents money.
In rare cases there are clovers with six or more leaves. The record leaves ever found on a single white clover stem is 56. It was discovered by Shigeo Obara of Japan, on May 10, 2009.
It has been estimated that there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover which means the odds of finding a four-leaf clover are 10,000 to one. Years ago, my sister and I once found a large patch of four leafed clovers, most likely spread by the stolons of one mother plant. Unfortunately we didn’t know how to preserve them and instead of pressing them in a book we put them in a bowl of water where they quickly wilted and were thrown out.
In rare cases there are clovers with six or more leaves. The record leaves ever found on a single white clover stem is 56. It was discovered by Shigeo Obara of Japan, on May 10, 2009.
It has been estimated that there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover which means the odds of finding a four-leaf clover are 10,000 to one. Years ago, my sister and I once found a large patch of four leafed clovers, most likely spread by the stolons of one mother plant. Unfortunately we didn’t know how to preserve them and instead of pressing them in a book we put them in a bowl of water where they quickly wilted and were thrown out.
The 4-H organization founded in 1902 uses a four leaf clover as its symbol. The four H's are represented in the pledge, "I pledge: my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, my HEALTH to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.
Trifolium pratense
The larger red clover, Trifoliumn pratense, can grow to be more than two and a half feet tall. This clover is the national flower of Denmark and the state flower of Vermont.
There are several benefits of the members of the clover family. White clover used to be frequently added to grass seed mixes, because it is able to grow in poor soils where many grasses won’t grow. It also tolerates close mowing, necessary for a groomed lawn.
Not only does it provide a green ground cover but most members of the legume family have nodules on their roots that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. “Fixing nitrogen” means these plants have the ability to convent nitrogen in the air into a nitrogen in the soil. When the clover dies, the “fixed nitrogen” is released, fertilizing the soil.
My dad used to seed clover in his yard year after year for the nitrogen benefit. It never established because his soil was apparently too healthy for the clover. I, on the other hand, am constantly pulling clover because it’s messing up my garden. It is a particular challenge to remove the clover and runners from between the creeping thyme. Perhaps if I had more nitrogen in the garden the clover wouldn’t do so well. I did buy clover seed to use as green manure crop this year. I'm hoping that if I plant it this year and till it in that it will be less likely to grow on its own next year.
There are several benefits of the members of the clover family. White clover used to be frequently added to grass seed mixes, because it is able to grow in poor soils where many grasses won’t grow. It also tolerates close mowing, necessary for a groomed lawn.
Not only does it provide a green ground cover but most members of the legume family have nodules on their roots that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. “Fixing nitrogen” means these plants have the ability to convent nitrogen in the air into a nitrogen in the soil. When the clover dies, the “fixed nitrogen” is released, fertilizing the soil.
My dad used to seed clover in his yard year after year for the nitrogen benefit. It never established because his soil was apparently too healthy for the clover. I, on the other hand, am constantly pulling clover because it’s messing up my garden. It is a particular challenge to remove the clover and runners from between the creeping thyme. Perhaps if I had more nitrogen in the garden the clover wouldn’t do so well. I did buy clover seed to use as green manure crop this year. I'm hoping that if I plant it this year and till it in that it will be less likely to grow on its own next year.
Another positive element of clover is that it is the most common flower for making honey — bees love the clover flowers! Clover is also an excellent forage and fodder crop for livestock.
Like most weeds, clover is edible, but that doesn’t mean they should be eaten. I’d say they are more like a survival type of food. While ruminate animals love them and people have been known to add them to salads, the raw leaves are difficult for humans to digest. It’s probably better to boil or process the leaves in some way or to add them to soup or stew. Dried flower and seedpods can also be ground up to used as a type of flour or red clover especially is steeped to make an herbal tea. The cooked roots are also edible. |
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Some clovers, particularly the large red clovers, should only be eaten in cautious moderation because of the clover's medicinal properties. One interesting fact is that the blood thinner Coumadin was discovered after moldy clover killed a lot of cows. Moldy clover still works as a blood thinner.
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Clover is everywhere and is an unconscious part of our everyday lives. We used to hear more about a "clover leaf" on a highway when the freeway system was new. Now we just take it for granted that that is the way to navigate.
When farming was the way of life people noticed that cows were more plump on fields with lots of clover. This gave rise to an expression meaning living a life of ease and prosperity. So to you, my friend, "I wish that you might be in clover." |
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