The Eugenia caryophyllata belongs to plants in the pea family (Fabaceae). Their species are generally small and usually have leaves with three leaflets. Clove can grow 8 to 12 inches.
Clove buds are named from the Latin term 'clavus', which means nail. This is a reference to their nail-like shape. Years ago, the clove trees were used to symbolize life. When a child was born, a new tree would be planted as a symbol, uniting the two together. Used mainly as a spice, ancient cultures used Clove to treat a variety of ailments. Chinese medicine used Clove to combat bad breath, hernias, and bronchitis; others used it to relieve toothaches, aid digestion, alleviate childbirth pain, and eliminate intestinal parasites and athlete’s foot.