Trifolium pratense
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the bean family}}
{{About|the plant|other uses|Red clover (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Trifolium pratense - Keila2.jpg
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|taxon = Trifolium pratense
|authority = L.
|synonyms = {{taxon list
|Lagopus pratensis |(L.) Bernh.
|Trifolium pratense f. pratense |
|Trifolium pratense var. pratense |
|Trifolium ukrainicum |Opperman }}
}}
Trifolium pratense (from Latin prātum, meaning meadow), red clover,{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }}{{PLANTS|id=TRPR2|taxon=Trifolium pratense|access-date=15 December 2015}} is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Old World, but planted and naturalised in many other regions.
Description
File:Trifolium pratense albiflorum - Keila.jpg
File:Bombus schrencki - Trifolium pratense - Keila.jpg
Red clover is a herbaceous, short-lived perennial plant, which is generally variable in size, growing to {{convert|20–80|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tall. It has a deep taproot which makes it tolerant to drought and gives it a good soil structuring effect.{{Cite web|url=https://extension.psu.edu/red-clover|title=Red Clover|website=extension.psu.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-03-14}} The leaves are alternate, trifoliate (with three leaflets), each leaflet {{convert|15–30|mm|in|1|abbr=on|frac=8}} long and {{convert|8–15|mm|abbr=on|frac=8}} broad, green with a characteristic pale crescent in the outer half of the leaf; the petiole is {{convert|1-4|cm|in|1|abbr=on|frac=4}} long, with two basal stipules that are abruptly narrowed to a bristle-like point. The flowers are dark pink with a paler base, {{convert|12–15|mm|in|1|abbr=on|frac=8}} long, produced in a dense inflorescence, and are mostly visited by bumblebees.{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1111/plb.12328| pmid = 25754608| title = Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers| journal = Plant Biology| volume = 18| issue = 1| pages = 56–62| year = 2015| last1 = Van Der Kooi | first1 = C. J.| last2 = Pen | first2 = I.| last3 = Staal | first3 = M.| last4 = Stavenga | first4 = D. G.| last5 = Elzenga | first5 = J. T. M.|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273158762}}
Taxonomy
Trifolium pratense was initially published by Carl Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum in 1753.p. 768.
The genus has 3 known subspecies:{{cite web |title=Trifolium pratense L. |url=https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000213053 |access-date=4 August 2023}}
- Trifolium pratense subsp. baeticum {{Au|(Boiss.) Vicioso}}
- Trifolium pratense subsp. kotulae {{au|(Pawl.) Soják}}
- Trifolium pratense subsp. pratense
{{missing information|infraspecific classification: Kew lists three subspecies but also notes that classification is "complex". Should at least explain the sativum variety mentioned in "Uses"|date=February 2022}}
Distribution
The red clover is native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but it has been naturalised in other continents, like North and South America. Specifically, the red clover was brought to Argentina and Chile over 100 years ago, although it is not clear how exactly it was introduced.{{Cite journal|title = Evaluation of Introduced and Naturalised Populations of Red Clover(Trifolium pratense L.) at Pergamino EEA-INTA, Argentina|journal = Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution|date = 2005-08-01|issn = 0925-9864|pages = 507–511|volume = 52|issue = 5|doi = 10.1007/s10722-005-0777-z|first1 = B. S.|last1 = Rosso|first2 = E. M.|last2 = Pagano|s2cid = 21172324}} The red clover has become increasingly important as a source of economic stability in Chile, which has made the need for pollinators even more important.{{Cite journal|title = The Introduction of Bombus Ruderatus to Chile for Red Clover Pollination|journal = Bee World|date = 1986-01-01|issn = 0005-772X|pages = 15–22|volume = 67|issue = 1|doi = 10.1080/0005772X.1986.11098855|first1 = P. V.|last1 = Arretz|first2 = R. P.|last2 = Macfarlane}} One important pollinator, which was also brought from Europe, is Bombus ruderatus, or the large garden bumblebee. This bumblebee has been one of the important pollinators of red clover in South America and other countries such as New Zealand.{{Cite journal|title = Rapid ecological replacement of a native bumble bee by invasive species|journal = Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment|date = 2013-07-15|issn = 1540-9295|pages = 529–534|volume = 11|issue = 10|doi = 10.1890/120321|first1 = Carolina L|last1 = Morales|first2 = Marina P|last2 = Arbetman|first3 = Sydney A|last3 = Cameron|first4 = Marcelo A|last4 = Aizen| bibcode=2013FrEE...11..529M |s2cid = 86469248}} In India the highest producer of red clover seed is the Agriculture Department of Kashmir's Fodder Seed Production Station Aru, in south Kashmir's Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir.{{cite web | title=Director Agriculture Kashmir Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal visited Aru, Pahalgam | website=Kashmir Mirror | date=2022-02-20 |url=https://kashmirmirror.com/director-agriculture-kashmir-choudhary-mohammad-iqbal-visited-aru-pahalgam-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220145630/https://kashmirmirror.com/director-agriculture-kashmir-choudhary-mohammad-iqbal-visited-aru-pahalgam-2/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 20, 2022 | access-date=2022-07-01}} Two red clover accessions were deposited in National Gene Bank of India from Fodder Seed Production Station Aru in 2019 vide IC-635999 and IC-636000 by ICAR.{{Cite web|url=https://kashmirmirror.com/2021/10/17/director-agriculture-kashmir-inaugurates-41-varieties-of-high-yielding-fodder-crops-at-fodder-seed-production-farm-aru/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820180829/https://kashmirmirror.com/2021/10/17/director-agriculture-kashmir-inaugurates-41-varieties-of-high-yielding-fodder-crops-at-fodder-seed-production-farm-aru/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 20, 2022|title=Director Agriculture Kashmir Inaugurates 41 varieties of high yielding Fodder Crops at Fodder Seed Production Farm Aru|first=Kashmir|last=Mirror|date=October 17, 2021}}
Diseases
{{Main|List of red clover diseases}}
Red clover is subject to bacterial as well as fungal diseases, including clover rot,{{cite journal |last1=Öhberg |first1=H. |last2=Bång |first2=U. |date=2010 |title=Biological control of clover rot on red clover by Coniothyrium minitans under natural and controlled climatic conditions. |journal=Biocontrol Science and Technology |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=25–36 |bibcode=2010BioST..20...25O |doi=10.1080/09583150903337805 |s2cid=85239942}} and red clover rust, Uromyces trifolii-repentis var. fallens. Other problems include parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and viruses.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
Uses
File:Trifolium pratense 04.JPG
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 T. pratense var. sativum. It has become naturalised in many temperate areas, including the Americas and Australasia as an escape from cultivation.
Due to its beauty, it is used as an ornamental plant. Red clover's flowers and leaves are edible, and can be added as garnishes to any dish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ediblewildfood.com/red-clover.aspx|title=Red Clover: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves and Identification {{!}} Trifolium pratense|website=www.ediblewildfood.com|access-date=2019-02-15}} They can be ground into a flour.
The flowers often are used to make jelly and tisanes, and are used in essiac recipes. Their essential oil may be extracted and its unique scent used in aromatherapy.
Trifolium pratense
=Medicinal uses=
In the traditional medicine of India, Trifolium pratense is believed to be a deobstruent, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, anti-inflammatory and antidermatosis agent.{{Cite book|title=Indian medicinal plants : an illustrated dictionary|date=2007|publisher=Springer|others=Khare, C. P., 1932–|isbn=9780387706375|location=Berlin|oclc=316267725}}
In alternative medicine, red clover is promoted as a treatment for a variety of human maladies, including symptoms of menopause, coughs, disorders of the lymphatic system and a variety of cancers. There is some evidence it may reduce the frequency of hot flushes in menopausal women.{{cite journal |vauthors=Ghazanfarpour M, Sadeghi R, Roudsari RL, Khorsand I, Khadivzadeh T, Muoio B |title=Red clover for treatment of hot flashes and menopausal symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=J Obstet Gynaecol |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=301–11 |year=2016 |pmid=26471215 |doi=10.3109/01443615.2015.1049249 |s2cid=1987452 }} There is no good evidence it is of any benefit in preventing or treating cancer or any other diseases.{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/red-clover|title=Red Clover|date=November 2008|publisher=American Cancer Society|access-date=22 September 2013|archive-date=31 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731172438/http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/red-clover|url-status=dead}}
Due to its coumarin derivatives, T. pratense should be used with caution in individuals with coagulation disorders or currently undergoing anticoagulation therapy.{{cite journal |author=W. Abebe |year=2002 |title=Herbal medication: potential for adverse interactions with analgesic drugs |journal=Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics |volume=27 |issue=6 |pages=391–401 |pmid=12472978 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2710.2002.00444.x|s2cid=1828900 |doi-access=free }} It is metabolised by CYP3A4 and therefore caution should be used when taking it with other drugs using this metabolic pathway.{{cite web|url=https://online.epocrates.com/noFrame/showPage.do?method=altmeds&MonographId=3098&ActiveSectionId=2 |title=Red clover (Trifolium pratense) Cautions – Epocrates Online |publisher=Online.epocrates.com |access-date=5 August 2012}}
In culture
Trifolium pratense is the state flower of Vermont.{{cite web |url=https://vermonthistory.org/explorer/discover-vermont/facts-figures/state-symbols/vermont-state-flower |title=Red Clover |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |access-date=3 April 2015}} It has also been used as the national flower of Denmark. In 1936 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it was the national flower as part of an international exhibition taking place in Argentina. However, the choice did not become popular with the public. In 1987 the daisy, specifically either the marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) or oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), replaced it as the nation's floral emblem.{{cite web |url=http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/InformationaboutDenmark/Culture/DanishNationalSymbols/Other+National+Symbols/ |title=Other National Symbols |publisher=Embassy of Denmark, Washington DC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517100210/http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/InformationaboutDenmark/Culture/DanishNationalSymbols/Other+National+Symbols/ |archive-date=17 May 2007 |access-date=3 April 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://naturstyrelsen.dk/om-os/kontakt/faq/nationalplanter-og-dyr/ |title=Nationalplanter og -dyr | publisher=Naturstyrelsen, Danish Ministry of the Environment |access-date=28 December 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321144950/https://naturstyrelsen.dk/om-os/kontakt/faq/nationalplanter-og-dyr/ |archive-date=21 March 2023 |language=da |trans-title=Nationalplants and -animals }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite journal|last1=Vleugels|first1=Tim|last2=Roldan-Ruiz|first2=Isabel|last3=Cnops|first3=Gerda|title=Influence of flower and flowering characteristics on seed yield in diploid and tetraploid red clover|journal=Plant Breeding|date=April 8, 2014|volume=134|issue=1|pages=56–61|doi=10.1111/pbr.12224|hdl=1854/LU-8508401|hdl-access=free}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiversity-bc|Trifolium pratense}}
- [https://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1533:1 Red-clover seed production in the Intermountain States] hosted by the [https://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]
- [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]
- {{GRIN}}
{{US state flowers}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q156635}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Flora of Western Asia
Category:Flora of North Africa
Category:Garden plants of Europe
Category:Butterfly food plants
Category:Plants described in 1753
Category:Nitrogen-fixing crops