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Shamrock Shortage in Ireland sparks St. Pat’s fears
IrishCentral.com, March 16, 2010 --
A severe shamrock shortage is threatening St. Patrick's Day in Ireland and the "wearing of the green," according to leading botanist Dr. Declan Doogue of the Royal Irish Academy.
The shamrock was hit hard by the severe winter weather and won’t be easily found this week, said Doogue.
He also stated that the national plant was under threat because of the loss of its natural habitat due to modern farming methods. There are "pretend" shamrock plants, but the real one is a type of clover found in natural grasslands of which there is hardly any left in Ireland.
The shamrocks that most people will wear on St. Patrick's Day are not in short supply, but they are also not real clover, according to botanists.
Doogue said he hoped President Obama, visiting Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, would still receive the real thing from the Irish Prime Minister.
This story is a legend a news story a set of instructions a news story
When did this story appear? March 16, 2010 March 17, 2011 March 17, 2016 March 16, 2010
Which website published this story? CNN.com The Irish Times IrishCentral.com IrishCentral.com
What is Declan Doogue's profession? botanist news reporter farmer botanist
A real shamrock has 4 leaves is brown, not green is a type of clover is a type of clover
President Obama visited Ireland on March 17, 2010. True False It doesn't say in the story. True
Most people in Ireland wear shamrocks that are real clover. True False It doesn't say in the story. False
Why was there a shamrock shortage in 2010? bad winter weather Animals ate them. Wildfires destroyed them. bad winter weather
Why might there always be a shamrock shortage? too rocky soil loss of its natural habitat not enough people to harvest it loss of its natural habitat
