Budded Cross
A stylised cross, common in heraldry as well as Christian iconography
The Budded Cross,
also know as the Apostle's or Disciple's Cross, the Treflee, Trefoil, Bontonee or Bottony Cross, or the Cathedral Cross
Budded Cross
A Latin Cross with three 'buds' is called a Budded Cross. In Christianity, the three-leafed clover1 end caps remind believers of the Trinity, and also the teachings in 1 Corinthians 13: "Faith, Hope, Love; The greatest of these is love."2
A trefoil cross, with or without a corpus, is often an identification mark for a cathedral, hence it is occasionally named a Cathedral Cross. Chapel and Church crosses are usually less ornate. (See Latin Cross.)
The design is probably copied from earlier Celtic Druidry, where they represent the three dominions of earth, sky and sea. Like the appendages of other crosses, the 'buds' have other interpretations. For example, a connection with Aaron's staff that budded (see Numbers 17) and was preserved in the Ark of the Covenant, showing that life can emerge from death and renewed life from difficult circumstances. Or like the buds of a flower where a journey of growth in faith, like flowers growing but not yet bloomed.
Since there are four arms, each with three buds, another name of this cross is the Apostles Cross, with one bud for each of the twelve budding Christian apostles. Synonymous with apostle is disciple. Both words mean a follower of Christ and usually spelt with an initial capital letter when referring to one of the original twelve Disciples. Of course, discipleship is not restricted to those twelve men. In Matthew 16:24 we all have an invitation to be a disciple of Christ. (See also the Consecration Cross. For notes regarding the fund-raising Disciple's Cross, see Cross of Hope.)
This cross is known in heraldry as the Treflee, Trefoil, Bontonee or Bottony Cross (from the French bouton a button) and is an artistic variation of the Cross Crosslet.
1 : See also 
Four-leaf Clover Cross
2 : "Faith, Hope, Love; The greatest of these is love."
A life of faith, hope and love is necessary to attain everlasting life in Heaven. Once in Heaven, our faith and hope will have served their purpose, since when the good things believed and hoped for come to fruition, the faith and hope ceases. Love will continue, but not in its Earthly, human form. In Heaven, love will be made perfect and we will perfectly love God.
