Four-Leaf Clover

Trifolium repens L.

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Scientist-in-training Summer Praetorius has an unusual skill—she is really, really good at spotting four-leaf clovers (Trifolium repens L.). A single gene causes the normally three-leafed clover to produce a fourth, supposedly lucky, leaf. As it turns out, good science depends on both close observation—a skill Praetorius uses to spot tiny shelled animals called foraminifera—and a little bit of luck. Ari Daniel Shapiro explains.

Photo Credit:KEBman

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Meet the Scientists

Four-Leaf Clover Podcast: Meet the Scientist

Summer Praetorius has an unusual ability to find four leaf –leaf clovers. She has always been good at recognizing shapes and patterns which is helpful for her work sorting through fossils to understand the climate on earth thousands of years ago. Take a minute to meet Summer as she shares what she loves about science.

Ask a Question:

Summer would like to hear from you. Submit your questions here and check back for answers in the coming weeks.

Summer Praetorius has a unique ability to spot

4-leaf clovers. Here’s the one she later gave to reporter Ari Daniel

Shapiro.”

Summer Praetorius

Summer Praetorius has a unique ability to

spot 4-leaf clovers.

Where do you work?

I am a graduate student in Oceanography at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

What do you study?

I reconstruct past climate changes by examining various physical and chemical properties recorded in marine sediments.

What are three titles you would give yourself?

Paleoclimatologist, Dancer, Dreamer.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

When am I not working? Just kidding, there are moments. I love tubing, swimming, dancing, travelling, and jigsaw puzzling.

What do you like most about science?

I love that it explores the full spectrum of questions, from the smallest little details to the biggest, most fundamental questions. It seems that the more we unravel the more bizarre and mysterious everything becomes, so that it just keeps pulling us deeper into the wondrous qualities of life.

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Extras

Four-Leaf Clover Podcast Extras

Here you will find intriguing extras: segments our producers weren't able to fit into a five-minute podcast as well as images, interesting facts and ways to get involved or in touch with biodiversity wherever you live.

Audio Extras

Listen to another version of the Four Leaf Clover audio report, available on the U.S. based National Public Radio (NPR) website.

Images

For more images, check out the Four Leaf Clover group on the Flickr photo sharing website.

Facts

White Clover or Trifolium repens is one of the three-leafleted clover species that can produce four leaves (if you are lucky). Learn more.

Bees visit clovers to collect pollen and suck nectar and just about everybody (caterpillars, ruffled grouse, cottontail deer, horned lark and geese) love to eat the leaves, flowers and seeds of clovers. Learn more.

In the News

Researchers from the University of Georgia have reported finding the gene that turns three-leaf clovers into the much sought after lucky four-leaf clovers. Learn more.

Citizen Science Connections

Project Budburst

Learn more about Trifolium repens through the Citizen Science organization Project BudBurst. Visit their White Clover (Trifolium repens) information page to find an identification guide, phenophase field guide and a map of reported white clover observations.

Project BudBurst is a U.S. based program designed to encourage the public to help collect important environmental and climate change data based on phenological events such as the timing of leafing and flowering of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. Observations are contributed to the national Project BudBurst database. To learn more about how to participate visit their website.

Trifolium repens is one of the three-leafleted clover species that can produce four leaves (if you are lucky) (EOL general description)

Bees visit these clovers to collect pollen and suck nectar and just about everybody (caterpillars, ruffled grouse, cottontail deer, horned lark and geese) love to eat the leaves, flowers and seeds of clovers. (Associations, image by e_monk)

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Participate

Is there an organism you have a knack for spotting or observing? Tell us what it is and why it is interesting to you.

Here are some of the responses we have gotten so far!

Myxomycetes! Because I love to sit in the woods and pull apart decaying logs! (so I see lots of little ascomycetes too!) (Twitter: @MycoFun)
indigenous stingless bees (Melipona - Trigona) (Facebook-Massimo Tosco)
patience is key; stop, look, listen. the world will open as a result (Twitter @backyardbeyond)
Velvet Worms, early morning look 4 glue (Twitter@stits)

Now it's you turn! Let us know by emailing us!

Thanks for contributing!

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