Lovely capture, Debasish ji. Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_pratense
*Trifolium pratense* (*Red Clover*) is a species of clover<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover>, native to Europe <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe>, western Asia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia>and northwest Africa <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa>, but planted and naturalised in many other regions. It is an herbaceous <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbaceous> perennial plant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_plant>, variable in size, growing to 20-80 cm tall. The leaves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf> are alternate, 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 petiole <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petiole_(botany)> is 1-4 cm long, with two basal stipules <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stipule>. The flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower> are dark pink with a paler base, 12-15 mm long, produced in a dense inflorescence<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflorescence>2-3 cm diameter. The plant was named *Trifolium pratense* by Carolus Linnaeus<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolus_Linnaeus>in 1753. *Pratense* is Latin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin> for "found in meadows". It is widely grown as a fodder <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fodder> crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_fixation>which increases soil fertility. For these reasons it is used as a green manure <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_manure> crop. Several Cultivar Groups <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivar_Group> have been selected for agricultural use, mostly derived from var. *sativum*. It has become naturalised <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalisation_(biology)> in many temperate areas, including the Americas<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas>and Australasia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasia> as an escape from cultivation. The isoflavones <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoflavone> and phytoestrogens<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogen>from Red Clover have been used to treat the symptoms of menopause <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause>.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_pratense#cite_note-0>Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid ingesting Red Clover. It has also been reported that red clover can be used for therapeutic purposes for coughs <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cough>, bronchitis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchitis>, eczema <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema>, sores<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sore>, scrofula <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrofula> and can be gargled<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargling>for mouth ulcers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouth_ulcer> and sore throats<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sore_throat> .[*citation needed <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>* ] It has been shown to contain compounds like caffeic acid<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeic_acid>that starve tumors and reduce inflammation. It is the national flower <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_emblem> of Denmark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark>[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_pratense#cite_note-1>and the state flower <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_flowers> of Vermont<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont> . It is also an ingredient in eight-herb essiac<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essiac>tea. On Fri, Oct 24, 2008 at 9:41 PM, Debasish Joardar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > *Hi,* > > *Location : Kasol, Dist. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.* > > *Date : 10/10/2008* > ** > *It is Trifolium Pratense * > *Family : Fabaceae (Pea family)* > *Common Name : Red clover.* > ** > *Enjoy,* > ** > *Debasish Joardar.* > > > ------------------------------ > Connect with friends all over the world. Get Yahoo! India Messenger. > > > > <http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_messenger_1/*http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/?wm=n/> > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
