Clover

Qualities of Clover

Common Name: Red Clover /White Clover  Latin : Trifolium pratense / Trifolium repens  Family: Fabaceae  
History and/or use:. Excellent for throat irritations/coughs and good green compost as fixes nitrogen. 
Wildlife Value: Main flow pollen producer for invertebrates 

​Clover is a wonderful feature of our meadows and indeed many grass areas both in the countryside and in urban areas. It is one of the first plants to produce the ‘main flow’ nectar for bees and other invertebrates after the Dandelion and Sycamore have finished flowering. Its delicate scent attracts long-tongued flies, butterflies, moths and as already mentioned bees. Once the flowers have been fertilised they fold down over their young pods and the flower untouched, still standing, is referred to as an old maid.

Both the leaves and flowers of this plant can be eaten unless it is high in prussic acid which makes it bitter and unsuitable for consumption. It can also be used as a green compost for vegetable growers as it is able to fix nitrogen and therefore enrich the soil. Organic farmers ( and indeed other growers) simply dig or rotovate the plant back into the soil. It is also good animal fodder.

If you have any medical conditions please check with a medical herbalist first before taking any plant and only harvest it if you are 100% sure what it is!

As a herb Clover flowers are traditionally used as a syrup for coughs especially whopping cough and help to purify the blood. To help relieve bronchial or irritating coughs a brew of flowers can be made by steeping them in hot water for about 8 minutes and it tastes great!  It is also been said to be good for liver ailments and smoked in a pipe for toothache. Today we tend to use the red clover for medicinal cures although other species can also be used.

Clover is steeped in folklore, a candidate for the Irish Shamrock or Seamrog. This mythical plant brings great fortune to all who use it. The Shamrock is thought to be the white clover or more than likely the lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium).
It seems to be the quantity of leaves borne on clover which dictates its magical use.

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