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Searching for the Secret of the Four-Leaf Clover: Why is it so rare and valuable?
This rare herb, a variation of the common clover, is known for its four leaves, which are even more mysterious than the properties of the ruling clover. Tradition holds that anyone who finds a four-leaf clover will be blessed with good fortune, a belief that dates back to at least the 17th century and has led people to wonder what is so special about these rare plants.
As early as 1620, the writer John Melton mentioned the good luck symbol of the four-leaf clover in his play "The Astrologer".
According to research in the UK, in a survey conducted in 2017, the probability of finding a four-leaf clover among approximately 5.7 million clovers was 1 in 5076, almost twice the traditionally mentioned 1 in 1,000. What’s even more interesting is that according to the same survey, the probability of a five-leaf clover is 1 in 24,390, and a six-leaf clover is 1 in 312,500. Such statistics undoubtedly make four-leaf clover a treasure to be found in spring.
In 2023, Yoshiharu Watanabe of Japan set a new record when he discovered a four-leaf clover with 63 leaves, which is unprecedented for this plant.
The rarity of four-leaf clover has aroused the interest of many researchers. In their study, the Zezhou University team discovered a gene that transforms ordinary three-leaf clover into a four-leaf clover. This discovery, coupled with the account of environmental influences, makes the formation of the four-leaf clover even more complicated. Is it a recessive gene mutation or an environmental influence? This has become a topic of exploration for researchers.
As for the biological reasons why four-leaf clover is rare, the scientific community is still conducting research. Some experts believe that this is due to environmental factors such as soil nutrients, especially the addition of phosphorus fertilizers, which may promote the development of four-leaf clover. An experiment conducted by a 17-year-old Japanese girl showed that the appearance rate of four-leaf clover increased significantly in well-fertilized soil.
The study found that the plant hormone auxin also plays an important role in leaf development, further increasing the probability of abnormal leaf numbers.
In addition to growing under natural conditions, four-leaf clover has also become convenient for commercial production. Reports indicate that some farms in the United States specialize in cultivating four-leaf clovers, producing up to 10,000 plants per day to further meet market demand. These four-leaf clovers are often sealed in plastic as "lucky charms".
In addition to the four-leaf clover, its multi-leaf variants have also attracted people's attention. Certain cultivars of white alfalfa light up the field, naturally producing four or even five leaves, making them increasingly collectible. Some Irish four-leaf clover collectors consider these five-leaf clovers to be rare treasures.
Over time, in addition to being known for its rarity in nature, the four-leaf clover has become a symbol of various cultures, appearing in everything from Ferrari racing cars in Italy to the operating logo of space exploration companies.
In folklore, each leaf of a four-leaf clover usually represents a different meaning. According to Christian tradition, they symbolize hope, faith, love and luck, which also adds more mystery to the four-leaf clover. According to legend, anyone who finds this grass will be able to see elves, and the spiritual sustenance has undoubtedly made this plant more sought after.
The various legends and beliefs associated with the four-leaf clover have given it a high status in cultures around the world. From Bulgaria's peasant parties to Japan's Shinkansen, the symbolism of the four-leaf clover is everywhere. In some cases, the four-leaf clover is used as a logo for commercial brands to highlight its lucky qualities.
As a "lucky charm" that people have been looking forward to for generations, the preciousness of the four-leaf clover lies in its rarity and the profound cultural stories behind it.
Today, when we come into contact with these strange plants again, we might as well think about: What role do these four-leaf clovers, which give people hope and luck, play in our lives?
