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White Clover
(Trifolium repens)
When you see the word "repens" in a plant name you should expect to find a creeping, low plant that puts down new roots off the stems as they get longer.
Possibly a native plant but most of it probably got here from European imported seed. Better consider it not native.
The only native clover you might run into, especially if you travel a bit west into New York state is the Buffalo Clover (T. stoliniferum).
Favorite of the honey bee! Honey bees are busy little insects as you know. They don't like to waste time sticking their tongues into flowers that some other bee has already emptied of the sugary nectar. The clover helps them land only on "full" florets by signaling to them which are empty! The florets that have been visited hang down and then turn brown.....the full ones stand up.
Look at the photo taken in the school garden. Now that you know the code it isn't hard to pick out the florets which are still full of nectar is it?
Study pointers:
- Next time you are at the grocery store look at the honey. What plants are mentioned as nectar sources for the bees that made the honey? The darker honeys are supposed to have more flavor. Most people like the lighter honeys. Buckwheat gives a very dark honey.....try it sometime!
- Clovers are hairy stemmed to prevent ants from easily climbing the stems. Why do you think that is?
- "Tri" means 3. Trifolium refers to the 3 leaflets that make up a clover's compound leaf. Can you think of another word that uses some of the "folium" part of the word? Hint: think of the four seasons; think colorful
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