Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: trefoil

When I first studied this flower on my computer, I thought at first that it was a tiny Sweet Pea because its blossom looks so similar. But...Sweet Peas don't have three-lobed leaves like this does....so, then I thought it was some kind of clover, because its leaves seem just like those we all know as the shamrock. But clover blossoms don't look anything like this! So confusing!! However, after a lot of looking in my books, I finally discovered its identity! It's a species of Trefoil, which means "three-leaved plant"! :D And in fact, it is related to clover, but in a different genus. The tiny Birdsfoot Trefoil is native to Eurasia and North Africa but can be found all over North America, where it has been cultivated as a nutritious food for livestock. It's also an important nectar source for insects and a food source for larval insects. This plant is considered to be an invasive species in both North America and Australia, and here's an interesting fact: this little beauty is tasty for livestock, but it contains cyanogenic glycosides and is poisonous to humans! Finally, this flower is a symbol for revenge or retribution. If you would like to know more about this flower, Wiki has a great source here: Wiki: Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)