Red clover

Trifolium pratense

"Trifolium pratense" is a species of clover, native to Europe, Western Asia and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalised in many other regions.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) with damaged leaves from a Red Clover Casebearer Larva (Coleophora deauratella) I think this kind of leaf damage is called window feeding and am assuming it was done by larvae of the Red Clover Casebearer since I spotted some of them on the clovers. Habitat: Red clover (Trifolium pratense) growing in a grassy area near a pond's edge https://www.jungledragon.com/image/96441/red_clover_casebearer_larva_-_coleophora_deauratella.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/96440/red_clover_casebearer_larva_-_coleophora_deauratella.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/96438/red_clover_casebearer_larva_-_coleophora_deauratella.html Geotagged,Red Clover Casebearer,Red clover,Spring,Trifolium pratense,United States,leaf damage,window feeding

Appearance

It is an herbaceous, short-lived perennial plant, variable in size, growing to 20–80 cm tall. The leaves are alternate, trifoliate, 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 petiole is 1–4 cm long, with two basal stipules. The flowers are dark pink with a paler base, 12–15 mm long, produced in a dense inflorescence.
Trifolium pratense Clover,Flora,Macro,Plants,Red clover,Trifolium pratense,Wildflowers,trifolium

Naming

The plant was named "Trifolium pratense" by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753. "Pratense" is Latin for "found in meadows".

There are seven varieties:
⤷ "Trifolium pratense pratense" - widespread
⤷ "Trifolium pratense americanum" - southeastern Europe
⤷ "Trifolium pratense frigidum" - mountains of central and southern Europe
⤷ "Trifolium pratense maritimum" - southern Baltic Sea coast
⤷ "Trifolium pratense parviflorum" - Europe
⤷ "Trifolium pratense sativum" - Mediterranean region, robust-growing, with hairless or nearly hairless foliage
⤷ "Trifolium pratense villosum" - Alps, densely hairy foliage
Red Clover - Trifolium pratense Red clover is a very useful plant. It's often used as fodder and is also important for nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. Habitat: Meadow https://www.jungledragon.com/image/90061/red_clover_-_trifolium_pratense.html Geotagged,Red clover,Spring,Trifolium pratense,United States

Uses

It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. For these reasons it is used as a green manure crop. Several cultivar groups have been selected for agricultural use, mostly derived from var. "sativum". It has become naturalised in many temperate areas, including the Americas and Australasia as an escape from cultivation.

Red clover contains isoflavones which can mimic the effect of endogenous estrogen. The use of red clover to relieve menopausal symptoms has been shown to be sometimes ineffective, but safe. The isoflavones from red clover have been used to treat the symptoms of menopause. A large, well-controlled study of high-isoflavone red clover extract supplements showed a modest reduction of hot flashes with Promensil, but not Rimostil, compared to placebo.

Traditionally, red clover has been administered to help restore irregular menses and to balance the acid-alkaline level of the vagina to promote conception.

Red clover has been reported to be used for a variety of medicinal purposes, such as the treatment of bronchitis, burns, cancers, ulcers, sedation, asthma, syphilis, and quitting smoking.

It is an ingredient in eight-herb essiac tea.

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