White clover, Dutch clover, Shamrock
Trifolium repens

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A creeping or erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20 cm high. The stems are creeping and hairless and root at the nodes. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets can be oval or heart shaped. They have a dent in at the ends. They are hairless. They are on long stalks and usually have a white band. The flowers are white and in a round head. It is on a stalk that is longer than the leaves. The pods are narrowly oblong. They are 4-5 mm long. There are 2-5 seeds.

There are about 240 Trifolium species. They are mostly temperate.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It does best in heavy, clay soils. It needs an open, sunny position. It suits high rainfall areas. It is resistant to frost. It suits hardiness zones 4-10. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Eurasia, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Latvia, Lord Howe Island, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, North Africa, North America, Norway, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Siberia, Sikkim, Slovenia, South America, Spain, St Helena, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tender young leaves are soaked in salty water for several hours or boiled for 5-10 minutes then eaten. The dried flower heads can be used for tea. The flowers are sucked. The dried flower heads and seeds can be ground into flour. CAUTION: The leaves can contain cyanide so should be cooked. The plant should not be eaten in large amounts.

It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers, shoots - tea, seeds, pods, root, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Baltais abolins, Bijela djetelina, Che-ba- bo, Dhungri jhar, Ereqnuk, Kvitklover, Lohere, Shautal, Shotal, Shotaleo, Teen patey, Tokkipul, Trebol amargo, Trebol blanco, Trebol rastrero, Trevo-branco

Synonyms

Amoria repens (L.) C. Presl; Latodes repens Kuntze; Trifolium limonium Phil.; and others