Four-Leaf Clover

Our next-door neighbour has a very large clover patch on the grass verge at the roadside. On the 29th of May, this year, I looked at the clover as I was walking the dogs. I spied a four-leafed one, and then another, and then a third. I couldn’t believe my luck!

The photograph (above) is my visual proof of discovery.

Just today, I got to thinking “Why?”

From Wikipedia: “It is debated whether the fourth leaf is caused genetically or environmentally. Its relative rarity (1 in 5,000 clovers) suggests a possible recessive gene appearing at a low frequency. Alternatively, four-leaf clovers could be caused by somatic mutation or a developmental error of environmental causes. They could also be caused by the interaction of several genes that happen to segregate in the individual plant. It is possible all four explanations could apply to individual cases. This means that multiple four-leaf clovers could be found in the same cloverplant.”

Oh, so that’s all right, then.

My daughter, Amy, says that she can find a four-leaf clover in a patch of normal clover every time. I originally had my doubts, but she could pick one at random anytime she wanted, so I wondered if she was using her artist’s eye to spot the difference.

But, does it make the finder lucky? The jury is out on that question. What do you think?