Trifolium. Red Clover. Trifolium pratense.
Trifolium. N. F. IV, Red Clover Blossoms.—"The dried inflorescence of Trifolium pratense Linné (Fam. Leguminosae)." N. F. It is described in the N. F. as "Heads are ovoid with rounded summit, mostly from 12' to 25 mm. in length and breadth, shriveled, purplish and more or less brown from drying, consisting of many small papilionaceous flowers, crowded together and clothed at the base with broad, pointed, ciliate stipules of a pale green color with darker veins and which may or may not be accompanied by diminutive trifoliate leaves. The individual flowers are from 12 to 15 mm. in length, longer than the four nearly equal teeth and shorter than the narrower fifth tooth, calyx-teeth subulate, tapering; petals united into a tube below, the standard longer than the wings, but when recurved appearing shorter; stamens diadelphous (nine and one); style slender. The odor is faintly aromatic and somewhat tea-like, the taste being sweetish, then slightly bitter. Trifolium yields not more than 10 per cent. of ash."
Red clover blossoms were introduced into the N. F. IV and are used to make the fluidextract. For the results of a research of the constituents of T. pratense by Power and Solvay, see C. D., 1910, 273. Clover has, by the superstitious, been supposed to possess alterative properties. It also enters into the composition of some antiasthmatic cigarettes. There is, however, no sufficient reason to suspect it of any medicinal virtue.
