Red clover

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense), also known as cow clover or meadow clover, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but it has been naturalized in many other regions.

Pronunciation

Red clover: /rɛd ˈkloʊvər/

Etymology

The term "red clover" is derived from the Old English words "rēad" meaning "red" and "clāfre" meaning "clover". The scientific name Trifolium pratense is Latin for "three-leaved meadow".

Description

Red clover is a short-lived herbaceous perennial plant that grows up to 20–80 cm tall. It has a deep taproot which makes it tolerant to drought and gives it a good soil structuring effect. The leaves are trifoliate (with three leaflets), each leaflet 15–30 mm long and 8–15 mm broad, green with a characteristic pale crescent in the outer half of the leaf. The flowers are dark pink with a paler base, 12–15 mm long, produced in a dense inflorescence.

Medical Uses

Red clover has been used in traditional medicine for its health benefits. It contains isoflavones, which are believed to have estrogen-like effects in the body and may be beneficial for conditions like menopause symptoms and osteoporosis. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects.

Related Terms

• Isoflavones
• Estrogen
• Menopause
• Osteoporosis
• Herbaceous
• Perennial plant
• Inflorescence

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Red clover
• Wikipedia's article - Red clover

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