"White Sweet-Clover" (Melilotus alba)
2007 August 9
2007 August 9
2007 September 18What would a summer be without this plant's heady smell. Did you know that this sweet smell comes from coumarin? If the coumarin in this clover starts to break down in your hay stack, it produces compounds that prevent blood from clotting! My Mom was prescribed Coumadin (brand name for warfarin) as a blood thinner. Dosages have to be carefully monitored, for too much and oh, oh! Warfarin isn't used as rat poisoning for nothing!
Red Clover" (Trifolium pratense)
2007 June 17
2007 June 18
2007 August 6This is an introduced species ... an escapee from farmer's fields. Grown for grazing, it is also used as a planting to control erosion and enhance the fertility of the soil. The flower can be used for human consumption as well (check out the local health food store):
"Red clover is a source of many valuable nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. Red clover is also considered to be one of the richest sources of isoflavones (water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants)." quoted from University of Maryland Medical Center" Site
"White Clover" (Trifolium repens)
2008 July 2
2008 July 2"Alsike Clover" (Trifolium hybridum)
2007 August 9
Another introduced species from Eurasia. Although used as fodder, there is some caution and concern that surrounds this plant. When dew covered or wet it can cause Trifoliosis (dew poisoning). It seems that it is unknown if the wet alsike clover causes problems by contact or ingestion. Signs to watch for: gastrointestinal distress (mild colic & diarrhea) and photodermatitis (sunburn) ... especially where the body contacts the wet or dew covered plants ... newly shorn sheep being especially at risk.
Other, similar species will be added as I come across them.
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