Birds-foot Trefoil

Plant Info

Also known as:	Birdfoot Deervetch
Scientific name:	Lotus corniculatus
Family:	Pea (Fabaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	sun; fields, lawns, along roads
Bloom season:	spring, summer, fall
Plant height:	6 to 24 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:

A mass of bright yellow pea-like flowers ½ inch across. May turn orange with age.

Leaves:

Upper leaves resemble a 3-leaf clover but the leaves are usually more elongated and pointed at the tip (see lower left corner of above photo). There are 2 smaller leaves at the stalk base that may not be not readily visible.

More photos

• a mass of Birds-foot Trefoil
• extreme close-up of a flower that's turning orange

More yellow wildflowers. Extreme close-up photo taken in my yard, July 2006. All other photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, June 2006.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

Post a comment

Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission.

Please: Do not ask about where to buy seed or other gardening questions, are plants edible, etc. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much

Your Name:

Your email address: (required)

Comment: