Trifolium pratense

Taxobox
name = Red Clover

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Faboideae
genus = "Trifolium"
species = "T. pratense"
binomial = "Trifolium pratense"
binomial_authority = L.

"Trifolium pratense" (Red Clover) is a species of clover, native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalised in many other regions.

It is an herbaceous perennial plant, variable in size, growing to 20-80 cm tall. The leaves are alternate, trifoliate (with three leaflets), each leaflet 15-30 mm long and 8-15 mm broad, green with a characteristic pale crescent in the outer half of the leaf; the petiole is 1-4 cm long, with two basal stipules. The flowers are dark pink with a paler base, 12-15 mm long, produced in a dense inflorescence 2-3 cm diameter.

The plant was named "Trifolium pratense" by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753. "Pratense" is Latin for "found in meadows".

There are seven varieties:
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "pratense" Widespread.
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "americanum" Southeastern Europe (despite the name).
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "frigidum" Mountains of central and southern Europe (Pyrenees, Alps, Balkans).
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "maritimum" Southern Baltic Sea coast.
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "parviflorum" Europe.
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "sativum" Mediterranean region. Robust-growing, with hairless or nearly hairless foliage.
*"Trifolium pratense" var. "villosum" Alps. Densely hairy foliage.

Diseases

Uses and symbolism

It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation which increases soil fertility. For these reasons it is used as a green manure crop. Several Cultivar Groups have been selected for agricultural use, mostly derived from var. "sativum". It has become naturalised in many temperate areas, including the Americas and Australasia as an escape from cultivation.

The isoflavones and phytoestrogens from Red Clover have been used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid ingesting Red Clover. It has also been reported that red clover can be used for therapeutic purposes for coughs, bronchitis, eczema, sores, scrofula and can be gargled for mouth ulcers and sore throats.Fact|date=March 2007

It is the national flower of Denmark [ [http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/InformationaboutDenmark/Culture/DanishNationalSymbols/Other+National+Symbols/ Other National Symbols - Embassy of Denmark Washington ] ] and the state flower of Vermont.

It is also an ingredient in eight-herb essiac tea.

References

* [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Trifolium&SPECIES_XREF=pratense&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: "Trifolium pratense"]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?300623 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Trifolium pratense"]

External links

* [http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1533:1 "Red-clover seed production in the Intermountain States"] hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]