Editing Clover (section)

== Symbolism ==
[[Shamrock]], the traditional Irish symbol, which according to legend was coined by [[Saint Patrick]] for the [[Holy Trinity]], is commonly associated with clover, although alternatively sometimes with the various species within the genus ''[[Oxalis]]'', which are also trifoliate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.finegardening.com/shamrock-oxalis|title=Shamrock (Oxalis)|website=Fine Gardening|access-date=February 28, 2017|archive-date=March 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180720/http://www.finegardening.com/shamrock-oxalis|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clovers occasionally have four leaflets, instead of the usual three. These [[four-leaf clover]]s, like other rarities, are considered lucky.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911|wstitle=Clover|volume=6|page=561|inline=1}}</ref> Clovers can also have five, six, or more leaflets, but these are rarer still. The clover's outer leaf structure varies in physical orientation.

The record for most leaflets is 63, set on August 2, 2023, by Yoshiharu Watanabe in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Most leaves on a clover|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-leaves-on-a-clover/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808181811/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-leaves-on-a-clover/|archive-date=August 8, 2024|access-date=August 8, 2024|publisher=[[Guinness World Records]]|url-status=live}}</ref> The previous record holder, Shigeo Obara, had discovered an 18-leaf clover in 2002,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/natural_world/plant_world/clover_-_most_leaves.aspx | title=Clover - Most Leaves | publisher=[[Guinness World Records]] | access-date=22 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325145509/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/natural_world/plant_world/clover_-_most_leaves.aspx | archive-date=March 25, 2008 | url-status=dead}}</ref> a 21-leaf clover in 2008<ref>{{cite web|title=21-leaf Clover Sets Record|url=https://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/11/21-leaf-clover-sets-record|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722022314/http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/11/21-leaf-clover-sets-record|date=June 11, 2008|archive-date=July 22, 2009|url-status=live|website=Neatorama|access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref> and a 56-leaf clover in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|title=Most Leaves on a Clover|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-leaves-on-a-clover/|publisher=Guinness World Records|access-date=2011-04-23|archive-date=2015-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319035902/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-leaves-on-a-clover|url-status=deviated}}</ref> also in Japan.

*A common [[idiom]] is "to be (or to live) in clover", meaning to live a carefree life of ease, comfort, or prosperity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 26, 2021|title=Cambridge Dictionary|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/live-be-in-clover|url-status=live|access-date=June 26, 2021|website=Cambridge Dictionary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004114544/http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/live-be-in-clover |archive-date=2015-10-04 }}</ref>

* A common saying in surgery [regarding the appearance of wound after hemorrhoidectomy] is "If it looks like clover, the trouble is over; if it looks like dahlia, it’s surely a failure."

*A [[cloverleaf interchange]] is named for the resemblance to the leaflets of a (four-leaf) clover when viewed from the air.<ref>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Pollard|title=Travel by Road and Rail|publisher=Schoolhouse Press|place=Independence, Ohio|year=1986|isbn=9780808610403|page=31}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:4-leaf clover.JPG|Four-leaf white clover (''[[Trifolium repens]]'')
File:Five-leaf Clover, Megan McCarty128.jpg|Five-leaf red clover (''[[Trifolium pratense]]'')
</gallery>