LOTUS SUBBIFLORUS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Sect. LOTUS

Common Names:- Hairy Birdsfoot

Homotypic Synonyms:- Lotus castellanus

Meaning:- Lotus (Gr) The ancient name for various leguminous plants.

Subbiflorus (L) Mostly two-flowered.

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 35 cm. Villous or almost hirsute at least at the apex.

Leaves:-

1) Leaflets, 5-20 x 1-8 mm, oblong, lanceolate or obovate-oblong.

Flower:-

1) Heads, (1-)2- to 4-flowered, peduncles longer than the leaves.

2) Calyx-teeth, 1½-3 times as long as the tube.

3) Corolla, 5-10 mm, yellow,

a) keel, obtusely angled on the lower edge, with a long beak.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, (4-)6-16 x 1·5-2 mm, straight, up to 3 times as long as the calyx.

2) Valves, contorting on dehiscence.

Key features:-

1) Leaflets, 5-20 x 1-8 mm, oblong, lanceolate or obovate-oblong.

2) Corolla, 5-10 mm,, not more than 1.5 times as long as the calyx

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Damp meadows and depressions in dry open shrubby vegetation and by

field margins. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- Sparse distribution across the Aegean area. Scattered eastwards at

least to Palestine. On Crete known from only a few scattered locations.

Flowering time:- Apr to early June.

Photos by:- Len Worthington