BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL
Lotus corniculatus
BEAN FAMILY (Fabaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - May, June, July, August, September, October
- Rare in disturbed areas at FF & NW
- Low growing, sprawling plant
- Bright yellow pea-like flowers
- 5 leaflets - 3 clover-like plus 2 above
An introduction from Europe, this low-growing, sprawling perennial usually is no more than a few inches tall, but has from one to several weak, reclining stems up to 2 feet long (B,C). Leaves are compound with 3 clover-like leaflets grouped together at the tip and two more at the base of the leaf stem (D). Clusters of 2-8 sweet pea-like flowers develop at the tip of a long flower stalk (E). Flowers are bright yellow, sometimes with orange-red markings (A). The entire flower may turn orange at maturity. Clusters of cylindrical, one inch long seed pods resembling a bird’s foot contain up to 50 small light to dark brown seeds (F).
Bird’s-foot Trefoil, introduced from Europe as a forage and hay plant, has escaped into disturbed areas and roadsides. It has also been planted along roadsides for erosion control. It is rare in Fontenelle Forest where a single large clump was found in the garden planting across the road from the Gifford Road floodplain parking lot. There is also one old report from lower Jonas Valley at Neale Woods. Although currently scarce at FF and NW, this plant is common most everywhere in our area and likely will appear at our nature centers in the future. Flowering occurs from May to October.
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