This four leaved clover was found last May by Rob Rieder, an aspiring structural engineer, who is currently an undergraduate at The University of Bath.
The four leaf clover is a universally accepted symbol of good luck with its origin ages old. According to legend, Eve carried a four leaf clover from the Garden of Eden. I think she would have been better off using a fig-leaf like Adam! Druids held the four leaf clover in high esteem and considered them a sign of luck.
In 1620, Sir John Melton wrote: "If a man walking in the fields find any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing."
The leaves of the ordinary clover (Trifolium repens) are said to symbolise Faith, Hope nd Charity. When it bears a fourth leaf it symbolises Luck. In Irish tradition the Shamrock or Three-leaf Clover represents the Holy Trinity: one leaf for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. When a Shamrock is found with the fourth leaf, it represents God's Grace.
By the way, it is no use buying a four leaved clover. Even if they are not fakes they lack the good luck since that is said to come only by finding it oneself.
Just to be pedantic I should point out that the term four leaved clover is incorrect since a clover only has one leaf - the individual sections are technically leaflets. Whilst clovers with four leaflets are rare there can be even greater numbers of leaflets - one of eighteen having been recorded.
Why have I put this posting in my nostalgia blog, you might wonder. The answer is that while searching in GB's grass I was reminded of what was probably the last time I looked for a four leaved clover - on the King George V school playing field that we visited when I was at Ryebank. When we were not all rolling down the grassy bank - the girls with their summer dresses tucked into their knickers for propriety - the girls would sit and make daisy chains and some of us boys would search for four leafed clovers. My ambition was to find one to give to Ilona Richardson. I never did find one and if I had I would have needed all the luck it could bring to have the courage to give it to her!
