Envoy at 06:56, 2 October 2007

2007-10-02T06:56:29Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Red Clover
| image = Rotklee Trifolium pratense.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| genus = ''[[Clover|Trifolium]]''
| species = '''''T. pratense'''''
| binomial = ''Trifolium pratense''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|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 a [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]], very variable in size, growing to 20-80 cm tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 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 (botany)|petiole]] is 1-4 cm long, with two basal [[stipule]]s. The [[flower]]s 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 [[variety (biology)|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.

[[Image:Livada.jpg|thumb|left|General aspect]]

===Diseases===
{{Main|List of red clover 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 Group]]s have been selected for agricultural use, mostly derived from var. ''sativum''. It has become [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] in many temperate areas, including the [[Americas]] and [[Australasia]] as an escape from cultivation.
a california student states "I ate some when someone told me it was edible and Iliked it"
The [[isoflavone]]s and [[phytoestrogen]]s from Red Clover have been used to treat the symptoms of [[menopause]]. Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding should avoid ingesting Red Clover. It has also been reported that red clover can be used for therapeutic purposes for [[cough]]s, [[bronchitis]], [[eczema]], [[sore]]s, [[scrofula]] and can be [[Gargling|gargled]] for [[mouth ulcer]]s and [[sore throat]]s.{{Fact|date=March 2007}}

It is the [[National emblem| national flower]] of [[Denmark]] and the [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of [[Vermont]].

It is an ingredient of the smoking mixture sold as ''[[Spice_(drug)|Spice]]''.

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'']
*[http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/InformationaboutDenmark/Culture/DanishNationalSymbols/Other+National+Symbols/ Embassy of Denmark, Washington - Other National Symbols]
* quattrofolium [[http://www.quattrofolium.com/eng/pratense.html]]

==External links==
{{commons|Trifolium pratense}}
{{wikiversity-bc|Trifolium pratense}}
* [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]

[[Category:Faboideae|Clover, Red]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Estonia]]
[[Category:Flora of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Symbols of Vermont]]
[[Category:Vermont culture]]

Red clover - Revision history

Envoy at 06:56, 2 October 2007