Shamrock

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Shamrock. Half the world is sure that shamrock is the wood-sorrel, Oxalis Acetosella. The other half is equally certain that the true shamrock is white clover, Trifolium repens. In the time of Spenser's "Faerie Queene," shamrock was said to be good to eat. This applies to the former plant, but not to the latter. Moreover, according to Sowerby, the wood-sorrel is in perfection on Saint Patrick’s Day, while white clover is not. The wood-sorrel is sent in great quantities from Ireland to London for Saint Patrick's Day. On the other hand, it is said that clover is the plant most commonly used in Ireland. Half a dozen other plants have their followers, and these are all plants with three leaflets. Nevertheless there are those who deny that Saint Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol of the trinity. These declare that the water-cress is the true shamrock. The question will always remain an open one. ^CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

References

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