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Latin name: Trifolium Family: Legumes Categories: Medicinal plants, Flowers |
Clover (Latin Trifolium) - an annual or perennial plant of the legume family. Naturally, clover grows in Asia, Europe, Australia, North America and parts of Africa. Currently, there are about 250 species.
Plant characteristic
Clover is a herbaceous plant 30-100 cm high with a woody rhizome. The root system is pivotal, highly branched. Shoots grow in bunches. The stem is erect, pubescent. The leaves are trifoliate, clawed or four-leafed, elliptical in shape, located on long petioles. Stipules are accrete, filmy.
The flowers are small, collected in capitate inflorescences, can be of the most varied colors, but most often there are flowers of deep pink or white color. The ovary is short, contains 2-6 ovules. The fruit is a one-seeded pod. Seeds are spherical or slightly elongated. Only bees and bumblebees pollinate clover, this is a distinctive feature of this miraculous plant.
Growing conditions
Clover is an unpretentious plant, it does not need special growing conditions. Good for moderately moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soils with deep groundwater. Prefers open sunny areas, some varieties easily tolerate light shading. The best precursors to clover are cereals.
Reproduction and planting
Clover is propagated by seeds, but experienced agronomists advise growing the plant from seeds purchased in special garden centers and shops. This approach is more productive. Sowing of clover is carried out immediately in open, weed-free soil, since in the first year of life the culture is very vulnerable.
Sowing of clover for lawns is carried out only in a mixture with other ornamental grasses. The plot for growing plants is prepared in the fall, the soil is dug to a depth of 27-30 cm, rotted humus and mineral fertilizers are added. In the spring, the ridges are loosened and only after that they begin to sow.
Care
Clover does not require specific care. Good for feeding with organic, phosphorus-potassium and boric fertilizers. Some forms of clover tend to grow aggressively and therefore need to be thinned regularly. Watering is also important for plants, but some types of clover are sensitive to overflow.
Application
Clover is a highly ornamental plant, seeds of cultivated species are used in lawn mixtures, even after mowing, the plant sets new flowers, and pleases its owners with abundant flowering. Mountain clover varieties are great for rock gardens and rocky gardens, they are able to create a magnificent grass carpet even among large stones.
Clover is widely used in folk medicine. The beneficial properties of clover have been known since ancient times. It is also used as a fodder plant. Dried flower heads, young leaves and stems are often used in cooking, they are used in soups and salads. Dry crushed parts of plants are sometimes added during baking to bread and other baked goods, they give them an unusual taste. Clover is also a good alternative to black and green tea.
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Medicinal Sweet Clover
Medicinal sweet clover is one of the plants of a family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Melilotus officinalis L. As for the name of the sweet clover family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Fabaceae Lindl.
Mountain Clover
Mountain clover is one of the plants of the family called saxifrage, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Trifolium montanum L. As for the name of the family of mountain clover itself, in Latin it will be like this: Saxifragaceae Juss.
Lupine Clover
Lupine clover is one of the plants of a family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Trifolium lupinaster. As for the name of the lupine clover family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Fabaceae Lindl. Description of lupine clover Lupine clover is a perennial herb that will fluctuate in height between fifteen and fifty centimeters.
Cultivated Clover
Cultivated clover is one of the plants of a family called legumes, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Trifolium arvense L. As for the name of the plowed clover family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Fabaceae Lindl.
Crimson Clover, Or Blood Red Clover
Crimson clover, or Blood-red clover (Latin Trifolium incarnatum) - a herbaceous plant with bright inflorescences, which is a representative of the genus Clover, ranked by botanists in the legume family (lat.Fabaceae). Bright heads of inflorescences and very decorative leaves make the plant attractive for decorating gardens and flower beds.