What’s the world record for leaves found on a clover?

Nestled in fields and meadows, the humble clover has been turning heads for millennia. But it's not just any clover that catches our eye – it's the elusive four-leaf variety that has us all bent out of shape (and posture) as we scour the ground.

The fascination with four-leaf clovers dates back to the druids of ancient Ireland, who believed these rarities possessed magical powers to ward off evil spirits. In the centuries since, this botanical anomaly has become a universal symbol of good luck, appearing everywhere from greeting cards to lottery tickets.

But why four leaves? Turns out, it's all about genetics and a dash of botanical rebellion. The typical clover (Trifolium repens, for you Latin lovers) has a genetic predisposition to sprout three leaves. A four-leaf clover is the result of a recessive gene or a random mutation – nature's way of keeping us on our toes.

In medieval times, four-leaf clovers were believed to help people see fairies. Children would tuck them into their shoes, hoping for a glimpse of the wee folk. Meanwhile, adults sought them out as a safeguard against witches' charms. Talk about multitasking foliage!

The rarity of four-leaf clovers has been a subject of debate, with estimates ranging from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 10,000. This scarcity has only fueled our obsession. In the digital age, you can even find apps designed to help you spot these green rarities – though where's the fun in that?

But here's where it gets really interesting. While we've been fixated on finding four leaves, some overachieving clovers have been pushing the envelope. We're talking five, six, or even more leaves sprouting from a single stem. It's like the clover equivalent of evolutionary parkour.

This leafy arms race has led to some truly extraordinary specimens. Botanists and lucky charm enthusiasts alike have been one-upping each other for years, each claiming to have found the clover with the most leaves. But in a world of increasingly improbable leaf counts, one has to wonder: what's the absolute limit? Just how many leaves can one clover possibly sprout?

Plant lovers, what's the official world record for the most leaves found on a single clover?