Trifolieae
This week I chose to focus on clovers! The species name Trifolium means "three-leaves" so you can expect the majority of clovers to have this typical count. As many of the other medicinal uses of plants, clovers can be used in tea, jellies, garnishes for salad, and even ground up and used as a gluten free baking flour (Schofield). I will have to try the flour tip as my mom is gluten-free and I am interested in how this tastes as I am not familiar with anything clover. They have a wide spread reach and are common in meadows, lawns, gardens, and many other grassy areas in nature (Kumar 1435). Just take a look outside along your driveway and you may find a patch! Clovers can help with soil nutrients and are a great natural pollination plants for bees (Wilmer). I know I have seen an increase in clover lawns being popular within the U.S. to try and help revive the bee population.
Clovers have been a staple in my family ever since I was little. Four leaf clovers are considered good luck since they deviate from the commonly found three leaf rule. When we were younger, my brother and I would see who could find a four leaf clover the fastest or who could find the most in one sitting. We would then bring them inside and pressed them in a book so we could keep our luck and carry them around with us. I still have a four leaf clover papier-mâché bookmark that I made in elementary school.
Citations:
Janice J. Schofield. Alaska’s Wild Plants, Revised Edition : A Guide to Alaska’s Edible and Healthful Harvest. Alaska Northwest Books, 2020. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=0d60d39e-3da1-34cc-9d8a-4b9a94fb4768.
Kumar, Anuj. Medicinal Plants of Uttarakhand in 3 Vols. Astral International Pvt Ltd, 2022. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=db0166f8-9590-3e63-acc2-bb8c51f84950.
Pat Willmer. Pollination and Floral Ecology. Princeton University Press, 2011. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=705cd347-5187-3f2b-ad7e-af5b4bae017f.