The “official” clover genus Trifolium includes more than 245 subspecies. The best known and most used agricultural representative of this genus is the meadow clover (Trifolium pratense), which is also known as red clover because of its red flowers.
What is meadow clover?
The meadow clover (Trifolium pratense) belongs to the legume plant family and is known for its red flowers. It grows between 15-50 cm high, flowers from April to October and serves as a source of pollen and nectar for insects. It can also be used as green manure or in cooking and natural medicine.
Profile for the meadow or red clover
- Scientific name: Trifolium pratense
- Plant family: Legumes (Fabaceae)
- Growth height: between 15 and 50 centimeters depending on location and soil
- Flower: spherical and 3 to 4 centimeters large, purple-red to white-pink in color, hairy calyx
- Leaves: alternate and petiolate with egg-shaped stipules
- Flowering time: end of April to October
- Occurrence: fat meadows, fields, sparse forests
- Pollen plant for bees and nectar plant for bumblebees
- Ingredients with medical significance: phytoestrogens and isoflavonoids
Reasons for use as green manure
The meadow clover and other types of clover can serve as green manure in the garden or in agriculture, as they ensure an enrichment of nitrogen in the soil via the nodule bacteria on the roots. In addition, the impressive root length of red clover also ensures that compacted soil is deeply loosened and thus prepared for the subsequent cultivation of crops. When using red clover as green manure in the garden, you should not overdo it, otherwise it can sometimes lead to an infestation with the clover shrew. This is a beetle whose larvae eat holes in the clover leaves and also feed on the flowers.
Use meadow clover as a natural remedy
The meadow clover is edible like other types of clover, but consumption should not exceed a certain level due to the oxalic acid it contains. The flowers of red clover are commonly used as a decorative and tasty ingredient in the following dishes:
- Spreads
- Salads
- Soups
You can sow the red clover in pots for use in the kitchen or germinate it in a special germinator for sprouts. Then the seedlings can be used like cress after about 5 to 8 days. Red clover is said to have he alth-promoting effects on the following illnesses:
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal inflammation
- Menopausal symptoms
- Rheumatism
- Gout
- cough
Tip
The flowers of the meadow clover can be dried and used to make teas. To do this, 2 heaped teaspoons of meadow clover flowers are brewed with a cup of hot water. After about 10 minutes, you can strain the flowers and sweeten the tea with a little honey if necessary. Do not drink more than 3 cups of red clover tea per day and do not carry out the red clover treatment for more than 5 weeks.
