# Clove (*Clove leaf roll phytoplasma*)

Clove is a fragrant spice that comes from the dried flower buds of a tropical tree. It is used in cooking and has a strong, warm flavor and aroma.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tropical regions
- **Also known as:** Clove Bud

![Clove](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Syzygium_aromaticum_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-030.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Syzygium_aromaticum_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-030.jpg)

## Appearance

The Clove tree is a medium-sized evergreen with smooth gray bark and large, glossy green leaves. Its distinctive flower buds, initially pale, turn green, then bright red as they mature, resembling small nails.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Myrtales
- **Family:** Myrtaceae
- **Genus:** Syzygium

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Egyptians used cloves to preserve mummies due to their strong antiseptic properties!
- For centuries, people used cloves as a natural breath freshener and toothache remedy.
- Only unopened flower buds are harvested; they shrink and darken to become the spice!
- Zanzibar was once the world's biggest clove producer, called "Spice Island"!

## Special abilities

- **Flavor Fortress:** Clove produces eugenol, a strong aromatic compound, which helps it deter many herbivores and pathogens.
- **Bud Power:** Its valuable flower buds are harvested before opening, packed with concentrated oils for defense and attraction.
- **Year-round Producer:** Clove trees can flower and fruit multiple times a year, ensuring continuous seed dispersal and survival.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 800-1200 cm
- **Spread:** 400-600 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round in tropical climates
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Eats:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — harvests flower buds for spice

## Traits

- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)
- [Spices](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/spices)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Clove spice is safe for cooking but should not be eaten in large amounts by children.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Clove?

Compare leaf shape and arrangement, stem structure, flowers and growth habit. Some poisonous plants look a lot like kitchen herbs, so looks alone never prove a plant is safe to eat. Herb Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Clove?

800-1200 cm

### How wide does Clove spread?

400-600 cm

### How big are the flowers on Clove?

1-2 cm

### When does Clove bloom?

Year-round in tropical climates

### Is Clove edible?

Yes

### Is Clove toxic?

None

### What is Clove's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Clove: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/clove)