Is a shamrock four-leafed or three-leafed?

There’s some confusion: both the shamrock and the clover are normally three-leafed, but occasionally the plants produce four leaves – and that’s why finding a four-leafed clover is said to be a lucky, because it’s a rare happening. So it’s the four-leafed clover that’s said to be lucky, not the shamrock, although itinerant shamrock-sellers will tell you otherwise.
Remember the song ‘I’m looking over a four-leaf clover, that I overlooked before’?

But in fact the shamrock IS a type of clover.
Shamrock is an Irish name (seam rog = small clover) for the white clover, better known to botanists as Trifolium repens. Trifolium means ‘three leaves’ and repens means ‘creeping’, referring to its low-growing habit and creeping stems.

Red and white clover are easy to distinguish when in bloom. They are easy to tell apart when not flowering because one is low growing (T Repens) and the other typically grows taller than the grass it’s in

The clovers you are likely to see growing in Massachusetts are the White Clover (T. repens) and the Red Clover (T. pratense) where the specific name means ‘of the meadow’. The red-flowered variety is larger and more upright than T. repens. Trifolium repens was introduced to North America from Europe and is now widespread. It is a highly beneficial plant that is good fodder for ruminants, and its nitrogenous root nodules improve the soil it grows in. It is a favorite for honey production, but is unloved by ‘lawn nazis’ since it is invasive – although more tolerant garden owners consider it to be a decided asset in lawns. It can be hard to eradicate because the creeping stems (stolons) can root at any node, so that if you break the stems you can actually produce more plants!

Clover (Trifolium) is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the pea family.
Other closely related genera include Sweet Clover (Melilotus) and Alfalfa (Medicago).

During its successful colonization of the world the Trifolium repens has developed many natural variant forms, which break down into three main groups: with small leaves, mid-sized leaves and large leaves. Shamrock is the small-leafed variety.

The shamrock badge

Before the Christian era the shamrock was a sacred plant of the Druids because its leaves formed a triad.
Preaching in the open air on the doctrine of the trinity, St Patrick is said to have illustrated the existence of the Three in One by plucking a shamrock from the grass growing at his feet and showing it to his congregation. He was a good teacher who was well aware of the value of symbols to teach abstract concepts, just as in Masonic circles. Patrick should have been a Freemason!
The shamrock is also connected with the legend of the banishment of snakes from Ireland. Tradition states that snakes are never seen near trefoils; and that shamrock is a remedy against the bites of snakes.

The shamrock (three-leafed) and the harp are symbols of Ireland.
The harp appears on the coat of arms for Ireland, the shamrock is used as the badge.

The coat of arms of Ireland.
The background is blue, not green.

You might also observe the harp on the label of a bottle of Guinness!

 
The flag of the Republic of Ireland
The green is said to represent the old traditional Ireland, the orange to represent the Northern Irish, and the white is the peace that should reign between them.

I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
 
Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods
Written in 1927 - popularized in 1948 by Art Mooney

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before.
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.

No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before

Clover Salad
It’s a little early for clover in Massachusetts, so you may have to enjoy this in late Spring.

• Clover leaves and blossoms
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped mint
• 75g rice
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Cook the rice until tender in boiling salted water.
Drain and mix with oil and orange juice while still hot.
Wash the clover leaves, split into leaflets and trim stalks.
Stir the clover leaves and chopped mint into the rice.
Split the clover blossoms into florets and use as a garnish - yes, you can eat the flowers, too.

If an Irish Clover Salad doesn’t turn you on, and if green beer is too gauche, try an Irish cocktail:

Irish cocktail

1 shot Mint spirit
1 shot Irish cream (Bailey's, for example)
1 shot Grand Marnier (or Triple Sec)

The ingredients have to be poured in the above order, very gently down a long spoon, so that the colored liquids won't mix together. Sure, the Grand Marnier is more orange-flavored than orange-colored, but we can excuse that! It takes some care to do this. Since you’re going to have to drink your mistakes, we recommend you share them with a close friend!
Slainte!

Have fun speaking a little Irish Gaelic.
We recommend you try this before consuming the Irish cocktails (or green beer for that matter!)

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig !

Pronounced:  bann/ockt/tee   nih  fail/eh   pawd/rig
Meaning: Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Siochan leat !

Pronounced: shee/oh/con  lat
Meaning: Peace be with you

From Newsletter Number 17
16 March 2006