Red Clover

The pink-purple flowers of the native Red Clover, from May, vary in colour, and may even be white.

Species introduction

At a glance
Latin name: 
Trifolium pratense
Family: 
Legumes
Family Latin name: 
FABACEAE or LEGUMINOSAE
Category: 
Flowering Plants

Species description

Species description

The pink-purple flowers of this native plant, from May, vary in colour, and may even be white.  A four-leaved clover is said to be lucky.  Never put red and white flowers in a vase together as it foretells death or misfortune.  White flowers on their own indoors is also a symbol of death.  Clover flower tea treats the symptoms of early menopause, osteoporosis and cervical dysplasia.  An infusion is used for relief of bronchitis and whooping cough.

Both clovers may be picked from May until September, but pick the leaves and flowers fresh and use as soon as possible.  Red clover flowers are sweet tasting, and called 'honey-suck'.  Clover petals can be mixed in with cake and bun fillings and toppings, and the tops decorated with frosted clover flowers.  Beat an egg white until stiff and dip the flowers in.  Coat with icing sugar and allow to dry.  Clover flower heads can be added to salad dressings, or pickled in white wine vinegar and used with salads.  To make the pickle, pack the flowers into jars, add a little honey and fill with the vinegar.  Stir well and seal.  Use after a week or so.

Species photographs

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Details

Species family information

Legume seedpod crops are commercially very important for human consumption, livestock forage, silage, and nitrogen-rich 'green manure'.

Category information

Nucleic multicellular photosynthetic organisms lived in freshwater communities on land as long ago as a thousand million years, and their terrestrial descendants are known from the late Pre-Cambrian 850 million years ago. Embryophyte land plants are known from the mid Ordovician, and land plant structures such as roots and leaves are recognisable in mid Devonian fossils. Seeds seem to have evolved by the late Devonian. The Embryophytes are green land plants that form the bulk of the Earth’s vegetation. They have specialised reproductive organs and nurture the young embryo sporophyte. Most obtain their energy by photosynthesis, using sunlight to synthesise food from Carbon Dioxide and Water.

The earliest known plant group is the Archaeplastida, which were autotrophic. Listing just the surviving descendants, which evolved in turn, we have the Red Algae, the Chlorophyte Green Algae, the Charophyte Green Algae, and then the Embryophyta or land plants. The earliest embryophytes were the Liverworts, followed by the Hornworts, and the Mosses. Then we have the Vascular Plants, the Lycophytes and Ferns, followed by the Spermatophytes or seed plants, the Gnetophytes, Conifers, Ginkgos, and Cycads, and finally the Magnoliophyta (Angiosperms) or flowering plants.

Further information

Recipe for Red Clover Flower Cough Mixture

Red clover flower infusions, sweetened with honey if desired, have a calming effect.  Red clover flowers also make a useful cough mixture.  Boil equal amounts of red clover flowers and peppermint leaves in water and simmer for 30 minutes.  Filter and add honey to taste.  Stir well and boil for 5 minutes after the honey has dissolved.