Photo by Karen Bergeron
Copyright 2001
Photo by Deb Jackson
Copyright 2000 |
|
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
Other Names: Meadow Honeysuckle, Meadow
Trefoil, Purple Clover, Trefoil, Wild Clover, Cleaver Grass, Marl Grass, Cow Grass
Habitat
Red Clover is a perennial herb,
origin believed to be Britain where it is abundant, now a world wide escape,
naturalized
in nearly every country, even the Arctic Circle and high up into mountains. Cultivation:
Red Clover is an easily grown plant, from seed or root cuttings, requires little
attention. The long root is rhizome, and sends out runners, producing several stems 1 to 2
feet high, slightly hairy; leaves ternate, leaflets ovate, slightly toothed, ending in
long point often lighter colored V shape in center, flowers red to purple, fragrant, in
dense terminal ovoid or round heads. Blooming from April thought out the summer months.
Harvest flowers and dry for later herb use as it comes into bloom. Harvest edible leaves
for salad before flowers fully bloom.
Properties
Red Clover is edible and
medicinal, the young leaves and new flowers are harvested, and are used in salads, soups,
or as a pot herb. The sprouted seeds are edible in salads and have a crisp texture and
robust flavor. A delicate sweet and medicinal tea is made from the fresh or dried flowers,
it is alterative, antiscrofulous, antispasmodic, aperient, detergent, diuretic,
expectorant, sedative and tonic. Red Clover has also shown anticancer activity, poultices
of the herb have been used as local applications to cancerous growths. Internally, the Red
Clover plant is used as an alternative medicine for skin
complaints such as eczema and psoriasis, cancers of the breast, ovaries and lymphatic
system, chronic degenerative diseases, gout, whooping cough and dry coughs. Red clover is
now involved in research for a certain medicinal alkaloid 'slaframine' which is often
found in diseased clover, this substance has shown antidiabetic and anti-AIDS activity.
Folklore
In the middle ages the clover was
considered a charm warn to ward off evil spirits and witches. The four leaf clover was
said to have even more power against evil, a five leaf clover was said to be warn by
witches to give them evil powers, and a two leaf clover would give a maiden the power to
see her future lover.
Recipe
"Medicinal" tea: To 1 tbls. dry flowers or herb add 1
cup boiling water, steep 10 min., sweeten to taste, drink warm for cough and upset
stomach.
Article by Deb Jackson & Karen
Bergeron
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