stinking clover
Noun 1. A flowering plant of western North America: A plant (Trifolium gymnocarpon, also placed in the genus Dalea) characterized by having leaves divided into three leaflets (trifoliate) and producing clusters of small white or pink flowers. The common name refers to a perceived unpleasant odor of the foliage when crushed.
- Noun:
- The meadow was dotted with the delicate pink flowers of stinking clover.
- Despite its name, stinking clover is sometimes cultivated in native plant gardens.
- Botanists identified the specimen as stinking clover, noting its trifoliate leaves.
- As a modifier: The term can be used attributively to describe related characteristics.
- The stinking clover patch provided forage for local pollinators.
- Scientific Names:
- Trifolium gymnocarpon (the primary botanical name).
- Dalea (the genus it is sometimes classified under).
- Common Names: This plant may also be regionally known by other names related to its appearance or genus, such as "prairie clover" (a name shared with other species).
- Botanical synonym: (when referring to its classification in that genus).
- Descriptive terms: trifoliate plant, herbaceous perennial, wildflower. (Note: There is no perfect common-name synonym; "prairie clover" is the closest but refers to a broader group.)
The name "stinking clover" is specific and descriptive. The "stinking" component refers to the scent of its foliage, not its flowers. The "clover" component refers to its leaf structure (three leaflets), which is typical of plants in the clover family (Fabaceae), even though it may belong to a different genus. It is important to use the full term "stinking clover" to avoid confusion with the common forage clovers (e.g., Trifolium repens).
- plant of western North America having trifoliate leaves and white or pink spider-shaped flowers; sometimes used as an ornamental