WMT #9: Fabulous Fodder!
The 9th cache of the series, a camo-taped preform tube, is hidden along the trail as it contours its way across the wildflower meadows between Barley Cote and the hamlet of West Morton.
As you pass along the path, depending on the time of year, you will see numerous highly distinctive and well-recognised, dark pink inflorescences which is a familiar 'weed' of gardens, roadsides, meadows and parks.
The red clover (aka wild, cow or meadow clover) (Trifolium pratense) is a herbaceous short-lived perennial plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalised in many other regions like North and South America as an escape from cultivation.
The characteristic trefoil leaves are collected by wood mice and the nectar-rich flowers (May- October) are sought after by all kinds of bumblebees including the common carder bee, honey bee and red-tailed bumblebee.
It varies in size from 20–80cm tall and has a deep taproot making it tolerant to drought and helping it to structure the soil.
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 and long used in crop rotation. Due to its beauty, it is used as an ornamental plant.
Its flowers and leaves are edible and can be added as garnishes to any dish. They can be ground into flour.
The flowers are often used to make jelly and tisanes and are used in essiac recipes. Their essential oil may be extracted and its unique scent used in aromatherapy.
Its perennial nature supports sustained, reliable growth and its ability to fix nitrogen promotes protein-rich growth, enables it to support a wide range of wildlife including deer, turkeys, and rabbits.
These characteristics make it useful for hunters interested in attracting game. The pink flowers afford high visibility levels and facilitate such attraction and may be used by wildlife remediation teams and conservationists seeking to build wildlife bridges to connect fragmented habitats.
Medicinal Uses: it contains isoflavones which are related to estrogens and red clover supplements have been promoted for menopause symptoms and osteoporosis.
Historically, it was used for asthma, whooping cough, cancer, and gout. Today, red clover extracts are most often promoted for menopause symptoms, high cholesterol levels, or osteoporosis.
In Indian traditional medicine, it is used as a deobstruent, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, anti-inflammatory and antidermatosis agent.
In alternative medicine, it is used to treat several maladies, including menopausal symptoms, coughs, lymphatic disorders and a variety of cancers. Some evidence shows it may reduce the frequency of hot flushes in menopausal women, however, there is no good evidence it can prevent or treat cancer or any other disease.
As it contains due to its coumarin derivatives, it should be used with caution in those with coagulation disorders or currently undergoing anticoagulation therapy. As it is metabolised by CYP3A4, caution should be used when taking it with other drugs using this metabolic pathway. It should also not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding when because of its possible oestrogenic effects.
Symbolism: it is the national flower of Denmark and the state flower of Vermont.
See short videos here and here (ID, properties and health benefits) and here (foraging).
