Four leaf clovers are associated with good luck.
A four-leaf clover is an aberration of the typically three-leaf or “white clover” Trifolium repens. A perennial member of the pea family, it is a dark green vine with white flowers. Also known as the shamrock, it is the official symbol of the state of Ireland and has many religious and legendary associations, including good luck. Although the four-leaf mutation is considered relatively rare, the species as a whole is very common and has agricultural, culinary, and medicinal uses. People often confuse it with other varieties of clover.
religious and spiritual associations
Horseshoes and four-leaf clovers are considered good luck charms.
The three leaves of Trifolium repens were associated with the Christian Trinity: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This association is largely tied to Maewyn Succat, better known as St. Patrick, who is said to have used the species to explain the gospel to people in Ireland. Some say that an extra leaf represents the grace of God. A less dogmatic interpretation applied to the four-leaf clover is that one leaf represents faith, another hope, the third love and the last luck.
Associated myths
Flag of Ireland, associated with four-leaf clovers.
Many myths are associated with four-leaf clovers, the most enduring of which is that they bring good luck to wearers. This is actually an adaptation of the Christian story of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, being expelled from the Garden of Eden. According to legend, Eve brought the plant from Paradise and, as a remnant of that perfect land, she was able to bring good fortune. The line between myth and religion with the four-leaf clover is therefore somewhat blurred.
White clover usually has three leaves.
In the Middle Ages, people also thought that this allowed a person to see fairies and goblins, and children often sought one out in the fields to see the magical realm. The plants are also said to enrich a person, grow only where the mare has given birth, protect against witchcraft, and even help women determine who their future husbands will be.
Rarity
One white clover breeder, Yoke and Zoom, claims that only one in 10,000 plants will naturally mutate to produce four leaves. They believe that environmental stress causes the mutation, and that a plant that mutates regularly is even rarer. However, through cloning, hydroponics and other methods, the company claims to have increased the production of four leaves of Trifolium repens to one in 41 plants.
Description
White clover grows about 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) tall and can spread up to 3 feet (0.9 meters). The stems branch from the base, and the slightly toothed leaves are usually 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) in diameter. The flowers, typically 5 to 9 millimeters (0.19 to 0.35 in), generally appear on taller stems and are set on rounded flower tips, which are 15 to 20 mm (0.59 to 0 .78 inches) wide.
Plants that are sometimes confused with white clover
Many types of clover only have four leaves, so it is necessary to differentiate these plants from the mutant four-leaf versions of Trifolium repens. Peppermint, also called water clover, is an example. Its leaves are slightly more rounded and have a lighter green hue. Oxalis has leaves that are narrow at the base with a reddish star center. Three other species, the similar clover, buffalo clover, and buffalo runner clover, also look similar, but are generally taller plants, and the latter type does not have white spots on the leaves.
where it grows
This plant is native to Europe, as well as western Asia and North Africa, but has been introduced to many other regions. It grows best in regions where temperatures are at least 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C) and, while winter hardy, has poor drought tolerance. The plants thrive in a variety of soils, but prefer moist clays.
applications
Most commonly, people use these plants in pastures, letting cattle graze on them. Another common use is for ground cover and soil retention. Many people see it as a weed and don’t like flowers that attract bees, but people still use it on lawns because of its ability to tolerate trampling and fix nitrogen in the soil.
Less commonly, white clover is used for food. All parts are consumable and people have used it in salads, as a garnish, and in soups, teas, and similar dishes. People who eat it usually cook it for a few minutes first, because this makes the plant easier to digest. Sometimes the dried flowers are ground and made into flour.
Traditionally, this plant species also has medicinal properties. People have used it for common ailments like coughs, colds, and fevers, and it is also used as a blood and wound cleanser. Occasionally, people include it in ointments to treat gout, and it has also been made into eye drops.