This article is about spices, the word clove'' is also used to describe a segment of a head of garlic and a clove hitch is a useful kind of knot.
Cloves are the aromatic dried buds of a tree (Eugenia caryophyllata also sometimes Syzygium aromaticum, Myrtaceae) native to Indonesia, used as a spice in virtually all the world's cuisine.
The name derives from French clou, a nail, as the buds vaguely resemble small irregular nails in shape.
Cloves are harvested primarily in Indonesia and Madagascar.
Essential oil of clove has anesthetic and antimicrobial qualities, and is sometimes used to ameliorate the pain of a bad tooth. It, or its main component eugenol, is used by dentists to anesthetize the gum before injecting Novocaine or similar anesthetics, and is the characteristic odor of a dentist's office.
