"Birdsfoot trefoil" redirects here. For other plants known by this name, see Lotus (genus).
Lotus corniculatus is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to grasslands in temperate Eurasia and North Africa. Common names include common bird's-foot trefoil,[2]eggs and bacon,[3]birdsfoot deervetch,[4] and just bird's-foot trefoil,[5] though the latter name is often also applied to other members of the genus.
Lotus corniculatus var. sibthorpii(Rouy) Asch. & Graebn.
Lotus corniculatus var. slovacus(Chrtková) Starm.
Lotus delortiiTimb.-Lagr.
Lotus delortii var. rivasiiAfr.Fern.
Lotus depressusWilld.
Lotus dvinensisMiniaev & Ulle
Lotus forsteriSweet
Lotus gibbusBeeke
Lotus haeupleriG.H.Loos
Lotus humifususWilld.
Lotus juzepczukiiSeregin
Lotus komaroviiMiniaev
Lotus norvegicus(Chrtková) Miniaev
Lotus olgaeKlokov
Lotus orphanidisUjhelyi
Lotus pentaphyllosGilib.
Lotus pilosissimusSchur
Lotus pilosusJord.
Lotus presliiTen.
Lotus ripariusPers.
Lotus rostellatusHeldr.
Lotus ruprechtiiMiniaev
Lotus sativus(Hyl.) Büscher & G.H.Loos
Lotus stenodon(Boiss. & Heldr.) Heldr.
Lotus suberectusG.H.Loos
Lotus symmetricusJord.
Lotus tauricusJuz.
Lotus tauricusSteud.
Lotus tchihatchewiiBoiss.
Lotus tenuifoliusC.Presl
Lotus uliginosusHoffm.
Lotus zhegulensisKlokov
Mullaghera communisBubani
It is a perennialherbaceous plant, similar in appearance to some clovers. The name 'bird's foot' refers to the appearance of the seed pods on their stalk. Five leaflets are present, but with the central three held conspicuously above the others, hence the use of the name 'trefoil'. It is often used as forage and is widely used as food for livestock due to its nonbloating properties.
The height of the plant is variable, from 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches), occasionally more where supported by other plants; the stems can reach up to 50 cm (20 in) long. It is typically sprawling at the height of the surrounding grassland. It can survive fairly close grazing, trampling, and mowing. It is most often found in sandy soils. It flowers from June to September. The flowers develop into small pea-like pods or legumes.
The plant had many common English names in Britain, which are now mostly out of use. These names were often connected with the yellow and orange colour of the flowers, e.g. 'butter and eggs'. One name that is still used is eggs and bacon (or bacon and eggs).[6]
Lotus corniculatus flowers in southeastern Minnesota (late July 2016)
Lotus corniculatus has a broad distribution worldwide.[5][1] It is common everywhere in Britain[7] and Ireland.[8][9] Habitats include old fields, grassy places,[10] and roadsides.[9]
Uses
It is used in agriculture as a forage plant, grown for pasture, hay, and silage. It is a high quality forage that does not cause bloat in ruminants.[11] Taller-growing cultivars have been developed for this.[citation needed] It may be used as an alternative to alfalfa in poor soils.
A double-flowered variety is grown as an ornamental plant. It is regularly included as a component of wildflower mixes in Europe. It can also prevent soil erosion and provide a good habitat for wildlife.[11]
Fresh bird's-foot trefoil contains cyanogenic glycosides,[12] which release small amounts of hydrogen cyanide when macerated. This is not normally poisonous to humans, though, as the dose is very low, and the metabolization of cyanide is relatively quick.[13] Condensed tannins are also present in L. corniculatus.[14]
In the traditional medicine of the Sannio regio of Italy, the diluted infusions were used for anxiety, insomnia, and exhaustion.[15]
Birdsfoot trefoil is an invasive species in many parts of North America and Australia. It has been commonly planted along roadsides for erosion control or pastures for forage and then spreads into natural areas.[4][17] Once it has established in an area, it can outcompete native species.[17] The use of prescribed fire is not an effective management tool against Lotus corniculatus and herbicide is recommended instead to control it.[17]
Gallery
Flowerheads and 5-leaflet leaves
Young seedhead
Along high-altitude roadside
References
^ abc"Lotus corniculatus L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
^ ab"Plant Fact Sheet, Birdsfoot Trefoil" (PDF). plants.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
^ abUSDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Lotus corniculatus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
^Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press ISBN978-185918-4783
^ abHackney, P. (Ed) 1992. Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland, Third Edition. Institute of Irish Studies,The Queen's University of Belfast. ISBN0-85389-446-9
^Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles, Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-04656-4
^ abHeuzé V.; Tran G.; Nozière P.; Lebas F. (2016). "Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)". Feedipedia.org. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
^Scriber, J. Mark (1 January 1978). "Cyanogenic Glycosides in Lotus corniculatus. Their Effect upon Growth, Energy Budget, and Nitrogen Utilization of the Southern Armyworm, Spodoptera eridania". Oecologia. 34 (2): 143–155. doi:10.1007/BF00345163. JSTOR 4215630. PMID 28309546. S2CID 189827997.
^"The effect of condensed tannins in Lotus corniculatus upon reproductive efficiency and wool production in sheep during late summer and autumn" (PDF). Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association. 61: 51–55. 1999. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
^Guarino, Carmine (2008-08-30). "Ethnobotanical Study of the Sannio Area, Campania, Southern Italy" (PDF). Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 6: 255. doi:10.17348/era.6.0.255-317. ISSN 1547-3465.
^Van Der Kooi, C. J.; Pen, I.; Staal, M.; Stavenga, D. G.; Elzenga, J. T. M. (2015). "Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers". Plant Biology. 18 (1): 56–62. doi:10.1111/plb.12328. PMID 25754608.
^ abcdeWilhelm, Gerould; Rericha, Laura (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Indiana Academy of Sciences.
^Thomas, C. D.; Glen, S. W. T.; Lewis, O. T.; Hill, J. K.; Blakeley, D. S. (1999-02-01). "Population differentiation and conservation of endemic races: the butterfly, Plebejus argus". Animal Conservation. 2 (1): 15–21. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.1999.tb00044.x. ISSN 1469-1795. S2CID 44647405.
^Clarke, S. A.; Green, D. G.; Joy, J.; Wollen, K.; Butler, I. (2011-04-01). "Leptidea sinapis (Wood White butterfly) egg-laying habitat and adult dispersal studies in Herefordshire". Journal of Insect Conservation. 15 (1-2): 23–35. doi:10.1007/s10841-010-9300-8. ISSN 1366-638X.
External links
Wikiversity has bloom time data for Lotus corniculatus on the Bloom Clock
Jones, D.A. and Turkington, R., 1986. Biological flora of the British Isles: Lotus corniculatus. Journal of Ecology 74, pp.1185-1212.
Jepson manual Treatment
Photo gallery
March 04, 2023
lotus, corniculatus, birdsfoot, trefoil, redirects, here, other, plants, known, this, name, lotus, genus, flowering, plant, family, fabaceae, native, grasslands, temperate, eurasia, north, africa, common, names, include, common, bird, foot, trefoil, eggs, baco. Birdsfoot trefoil redirects here For other plants known by this name see Lotus genus Lotus corniculatus is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae native to grasslands in temperate Eurasia and North Africa Common names include common bird s foot trefoil 2 eggs and bacon 3 birdsfoot deervetch 4 and just bird s foot trefoil 5 though the latter name is often also applied to other members of the genus Lotus corniculatusScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder FabalesFamily FabaceaeSubfamily FaboideaeGenus LotusSpecies L corniculatusBinomial nameLotus corniculatusL Synonyms 1 List Lotus alpicola Beck Miniaev Ulle amp Kritzk Lotus ambiguus Besser ex Spreng Lotus angustifolius Gueldenst Lotus arvensis Pers Lotus balticus Miniaev Lotus barcinonensis Sennen Lotus bracteatus Wall Lotus callunetorum Uksip Miniaev Lotus catalaunicus Sennen Lotus caucasicus Kuprian Lotus colocensis Menyh Lotus corniculatus var alandicus Chrtkova Lotus corniculatus subsp ambiguus Besser ex Spreng Tzvelev Lotus corniculatus var arvensis Pers Ser Lotus corniculatus subsp callunetorum Uksip Tzvelev Lotus corniculatus f carnosus Pers Ostenf Lotus corniculatus var crassifolius Pers Lotus corniculatus var fallax Chrtkova Lotus corniculatus var futakii Starm Lotus corniculatus subsp komarovii Miniaev Tzvelev Lotus corniculatus var norvegicus Chrtkova Lotus corniculatus var posoniensis Chrtkova Lotus corniculatus subsp ruprechtii Miniaev Tzvelev Lotus corniculatus var sativus Hyl Lotus corniculatus var sennenii Afr Fern Lotus corniculatus var sibthorpii Rouy Asch amp Graebn Lotus corniculatus var slovacus Chrtkova Starm Lotus delortii Timb Lagr Lotus delortii var rivasii Afr Fern Lotus depressus Willd Lotus dvinensis Miniaev amp Ulle Lotus forsteri Sweet Lotus gibbus Beeke Lotus haeupleri G H Loos Lotus humifusus Willd Lotus juzepczukii Seregin Lotus komarovii Miniaev Lotus norvegicus Chrtkova Miniaev Lotus olgae Klokov Lotus orphanidis Ujhelyi Lotus pentaphyllos Gilib Lotus pilosissimus Schur Lotus pilosus Jord Lotus preslii Ten Lotus riparius Pers Lotus rostellatus Heldr Lotus ruprechtii Miniaev Lotus sativus Hyl Buscher amp G H Loos Lotus stenodon Boiss amp Heldr Heldr Lotus suberectus G H Loos Lotus symmetricus Jord Lotus tauricus Juz Lotus tauricus Steud Lotus tchihatchewii Boiss Lotus tenuifolius C Presl Lotus uliginosus Hoffm Lotus zhegulensis Klokov Mullaghera communis BubaniIt is a perennial herbaceous plant similar in appearance to some clovers The name bird s foot refers to the appearance of the seed pods on their stalk Five leaflets are present but with the central three held conspicuously above the others hence the use of the name trefoil It is often used as forage and is widely used as food for livestock due to its nonbloating properties Contents 1 Description 2 Subtaxa 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Uses 5 Ecology 6 Invasive species 7 Gallery 8 References 9 External linksDescription EditThe height of the plant is variable from 5 to 20 centimetres 2 to 8 inches occasionally more where supported by other plants the stems can reach up to 50 cm 20 in long It is typically sprawling at the height of the surrounding grassland It can survive fairly close grazing trampling and mowing It is most often found in sandy soils It flowers from June to September The flowers develop into small pea like pods or legumes The plant had many common English names in Britain which are now mostly out of use These names were often connected with the yellow and orange colour of the flowers e g butter and eggs One name that is still used is eggs and bacon or bacon and eggs 6 Lotus corniculatus flowers in southeastern Minnesota late July 2016 Subtaxa EditThe following subspecies are accepted 1 Lotus corniculatus subsp afghanicus Chrtkova Lotus corniculatus subsp corniculatus Lotus corniculatus subsp delortii Timb Lagr Nyman Lotus corniculatus subsp fruticosus Chrtkova Lotus corniculatus subsp preslii Ten P Fourn Distribution and habitat EditLotus corniculatus has a broad distribution worldwide 5 1 It is common everywhere in Britain 7 and Ireland 8 9 Habitats include old fields grassy places 10 and roadsides 9 Uses EditIt is used in agriculture as a forage plant grown for pasture hay and silage It is a high quality forage that does not cause bloat in ruminants 11 Taller growing cultivars have been developed for this citation needed It may be used as an alternative to alfalfa in poor soils A double flowered variety is grown as an ornamental plant It is regularly included as a component of wildflower mixes in Europe It can also prevent soil erosion and provide a good habitat for wildlife 11 Fresh bird s foot trefoil contains cyanogenic glycosides 12 which release small amounts of hydrogen cyanide when macerated This is not normally poisonous to humans though as the dose is very low and the metabolization of cyanide is relatively quick 13 Condensed tannins are also present in L corniculatus 14 In the traditional medicine of the Sannio regio of Italy the diluted infusions were used for anxiety insomnia and exhaustion 15 Ecology EditThe flowers are mostly visited by bumblebees 16 In the Chicago Region mostly non native bees have been observed visiting the flowers including Andrena wilkella Anthidium oblongatum Apis mellifera and Megachile rotundata 17 The native bees Bombus impatiens and Megachile relativa have also been observed visiting birdsfoot trefoil flowers though the latter only rarely 17 The plant is an important nectar source for many insects and is also used as a larval food plant by many species of Lepidoptera such as six spot burnet and the silver studded blue 18 It is a host plant for the wood white butterfly Leptidea sinapis 19 Invasive species EditBirdsfoot trefoil is an invasive species in many parts of North America and Australia It has been commonly planted along roadsides for erosion control or pastures for forage and then spreads into natural areas 4 17 Once it has established in an area it can outcompete native species 17 The use of prescribed fire is not an effective management tool against Lotus corniculatus and herbicide is recommended instead to control it 17 Gallery Edit Flowerheads and 5 leaflet leaves Young seedhead Along high altitude roadsideReferences Edit a b c Lotus corniculatus L Plants of the World Online Royal Botanical Gardens Kew Retrieved 2022 04 23 BSBI List 2007 xls Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Archived from the original xls on 2015 06 26 Retrieved 2014 10 17 Bird s foot trefoil Plantlife Retrieved 2018 04 16 a b Plant Fact Sheet Birdsfoot Trefoil PDF plants usda gov United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Retrieved 2018 10 19 a b USDA NRCS n d Lotus corniculatus The PLANTS Database plants usda gov Greensboro North Carolina National Plant Data Team Retrieved 23 June 2015 Collins English Dictionary Martin K The Concise British Flora in Colour Parnell J and Curtis T 2012 Webb s An Irish Flora Cork University Press ISBN 978 185918 4783 a b Hackney P Ed 1992 Stewart amp Corry s Flora of the North east of Ireland Third Edition Institute of Irish Studies The Queen s University of Belfast ISBN 0 85389 446 9 Clapham A R Tutin T G and Warburg E F 1968 Excursion Flora of the British Isles Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 04656 4 a b Heuze V Tran G Noziere P Lebas F 2016 Birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus Feedipedia org Retrieved 8 February 2016 Lotus corniculatus Bird s Foot Trefoil PFAF Plant Database Pfaf org Scriber J Mark 1 January 1978 Cyanogenic Glycosides in Lotus corniculatus Their Effect upon Growth Energy Budget and Nitrogen Utilization of the Southern Armyworm Spodoptera eridania Oecologia 34 2 143 155 doi 10 1007 BF00345163 JSTOR 4215630 PMID 28309546 S2CID 189827997 The effect of condensed tannins in Lotus corniculatus upon reproductive efficiency and wool production in sheep during late summer and autumn PDF Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 61 51 55 1999 Retrieved 22 March 2022 Guarino Carmine 2008 08 30 Ethnobotanical Study of the Sannio Area Campania Southern Italy PDF Ethnobotany Research and Applications 6 255 doi 10 17348 era 6 0 255 317 ISSN 1547 3465 Van Der Kooi C J Pen I Staal M Stavenga D G Elzenga J T M 2015 Competition for pollinators and intra communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers Plant Biology 18 1 56 62 doi 10 1111 plb 12328 PMID 25754608 a b c d e Wilhelm Gerould Rericha Laura 2017 Flora of the Chicago Region A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis Indiana Academy of Sciences Thomas C D Glen S W T Lewis O T Hill J K Blakeley D S 1999 02 01 Population differentiation and conservation of endemic races the butterfly Plebejus argus Animal Conservation 2 1 15 21 doi 10 1111 j 1469 1795 1999 tb00044 x ISSN 1469 1795 S2CID 44647405 Clarke S A Green D G Joy J Wollen K Butler I 2011 04 01 Leptidea sinapis Wood White butterfly egg laying habitat and adult dispersal studies in Herefordshire Journal of Insect Conservation 15 1 2 23 35 doi 10 1007 s10841 010 9300 8 ISSN 1366 638X External links Edit Wikiversity has bloom time data for Lotus corniculatus on the Bloom Clock Jones D A and Turkington R 1986 Biological flora of the British Isles Lotus corniculatus Journal of Ecology 74 pp 1185 1212 Jepson manual Treatment Photo gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lotus corniculatus amp oldid 1139852844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
