The main difference between clover and Oxalis is that clover plants have oval-shaped leaves while oxalis plants have small heart-shaped leaves.
Oxalis and clover are two plants some people commonly confuse. This is because some species of Oxalis look similar to cloves. However, if you look at the leaves carefully, you can identify the difference between Oxalis and clover.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Oxalis
– Definition, Features
2. What is Clover
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Oxalis and Clover
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Oxalis and Clover
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Clover, Leaves, Oxalis
What is Oxalis
Oxalis is a type of wood sorrel belonging to the Oxalidaceae family. It is also known as false shamrocks. This genus contains over 800 individual species of plants. Oxalis plants have dense clusters of low-growing foliage with three or more notched leaflets. Furthermore, these plants come in different sizes and colors. Most of these plants have purple or green leaves, and their flowers can vary in color, including white, yellow, and pink. Most Oxalis leaves have 3 heart-shaped leaflets.
Figure 1: Oxalis corniculate
There are several wild species of Oxalis growing in many parts of the world. Oxalis triangularis and Oxalis Corniculata are two of the most common species seen in gardens. These plants are very prolific, and gardeners consider them weeds. Some clover species, like oxalis acetosella or oxalis triangularis are often confused with cloves.
What is Clover
Clover is a plant that belongs to the genus trifolium and contains over 300 species of flowering plants. It is part of fabaceae, the pea legume botanical family. Cloves are mostly native to the northern hemisphere and also occur at high altitudes in Africa and South America. Cloves are generally small, short-lived perennial herbaceous plants. They generally grow to be about 12 inches tall. Also, they are resilient and add valuable nutrients to the soil.
Figure 2: Clover in a Pot
The quickest way to identify a clover is by looking at its leaves. However, clover plants are sometimes mistaken as shamrock plants or oxalis plants (mostly oxalis acetosella or oxalis triangularis). The leaves of cloves are trifoliate; this means that they typically occur in groups of three. Sometimes, they can occur as quatrefoil, cinquefoil, or septfoil, but this is very rare. Each leaf has a simple round shape. Leaves also have a gentle green color, smooth margins, and a smooth texture.
Moreover, flowers in the clover plant are borne as flower heads with dense spikes of flowers. They can take red, purple, white, or yellow colors and are generally spherical in shape.
Similarities Between Oxalis and Clover
- Both Oxalis and clover are small in size and do not grow very tall.
- Besides, they are mainly trifoliate.
- Also, both plants have a prolific growth rate.
Difference Between Oxalis and Clover
Definition
Oxalis is a type of wood sorrel belonging to the Oxalidaceae family, while the clover is a plant that belongs to the genus trifolium.
Family
While Oxalis belongs to the Oxalidaceae family, clover belongs to the Fabaceae family.
Leaves
Clover plants have oval-shaped leaves, while oxalis plants have small heart-shaped leaves.
Colors
Cloves have a gentle green color, whereas Oxalis comes in shades of green, red, and purple.
Nitrogen Fixing
Cloves are nitrogen-fixing plants, while Oxalis are not.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, oxalis and clover are two plants some people commonly confuse. However, if you look at the leaves carefully, you can identify the difference between Oxalis and clover. That is, clover plants have oval-shaped leaves, while oxalis plants have small heart-shaped leaves.
Reference:
1. “Oxalis.” The Sill.
2. “What is a Clover Plant?” Home Stratosphere.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Leaves of Oxalis corniculate” By Ganesh Dhamodkar – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Clover In Post” (Public Domain) via Public Domain Pictures
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