Habitat
Type: grassy areas
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere
Prefers: alkaline soil

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: perennial
Height: up to 50cm
Other:

Leaf
Shape: trefoil
Other: with whitish chevron or crescent

Root
Depth: deep

Flower
Shape: globular
Diameter: up to 40mm
Colour:

May be slightly toxic if plant is diseased.

Seeds contain trypsin inhibitor. Trypsin inhibitors interfere with protein digestion and are reduced or destroyed by sprouting.

March and April
all year
May to September
July to October

Flavour
Rating and Description:
delicate vanilla flavour

How to Consume
young: raw, cooked (best)
cooked
young: raw
raw, cooked, sprouted; pods: cooked

Used as ...
food, flavouring
food
food, tea

Action:
anticancer (prevents blood flow to tumour), antispasmodic, aperient, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, sedative, tonic

May treat:
internal: menopausal complaints, cancer of breast, ovaries, lymphatic system, skin conditions, coughs

nitrogen fixing
yellow dye

Collection
best picked before flowering

Drying
dry to store

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

General Glossary

• trefoil: leaf with three leaflets or lobes

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• anticancer: used in the treatment of cancer
• antispasmodic: prevents or eases spasms or cramps
• aperient: mild laxative
• depurative: eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
• sedative: calms the nervous system and reduces stress
• tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement