Week of March 14, 2016 For Immediate Release

Symbols of St. Patrick’s Day Beth Ellen Doran, Beef Program Specialist

If you ask most people what plant is associated with St. Patrick’s Day, most will probably answer – the shamrock. But past this, there is little agreement as to what a shamrock is OR what it symbolizes!

Shamrocks, in terms of scientific nomenclature, don’t really exist. The word “shamrock” means “little clover” and the category of clover includes hundreds of species. After several countrywide studies spanning a couple of centuries, Irish horticulturalists identified five common plants Irish citizens consider as “shamrocks” – the wood sorrel, white clover, yellow clover, red clover and black medick.

Around St. Patrick’s Day, potted shamrock plants are a common site. Shamrock plants are members of the wood sorrel family and of the genus Oxalis. The shamrock plant is a small specimen, usually reaching less than 6 inches in height. Leaves are clover shaped, having three leaflets. Interestingly, the leaves fold up at night and open when light returns. The flowers have five petals, with petal color ranging from white to pink, red, or yellow. The shamrock plant will bloom off and on during fall, winter and spring, but goes dormant during the summer.

The majority of clovers are three-leaf. The four-leaf clover is a rare variation, with about one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 three-leaf clovers. Some clovers – the five- and six-leaf clovers - are even rarer. It is debated whether the additional fourth, fifth or sixth leaves are caused by a genetic mutation or a developmental error due to the environment. Common blossom colors include white, yellow and red.

So, from a botanical perspective, the “shamrock” is actually something that exists as a shape or color rather than a scientific species. But, what does the shamrock represent? Here, too, there is much debate.

Legend purports that St. Patrick, used the three-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) in fourth century A.D. as he converted the Irish to Christianity. However, there is no mention of the shamrock in the saint’s writings, and the first mention of this idea was early 18th century, which was more than a 1000 years later.

But, the shamrock is firmly rooted in Irish history. It first appeared in the floral emblems of Britain and Ireland in the Middle Ages. The earliest reference to wearing a shamrock was in 1681. By the 1820’s almost anything meant to have an Irish connection had a shamrock on it. However, it wasn’t until 1985, that the shamrock was officially registered as a trademark by the Government of Ireland.

In Ireland, the shamrock may best be remembered as a part of an old tradition called “drowning the shamrock.” The shamrock, worn in the hat or lapel on St. Patrick’s Day, is removed and put into the last drink of the evening. A toast is proposed and after being honored, the shamrock is taken from the bottom of the glass and thrown over the left shoulder. Sláinte (To Your Health)!

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Beth Ellen Doran, Beef Program Specialist Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 712-737-4230 or [email protected]