Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Lotus strigosus var. hirtellus, L. strigosus var. tomentellus, L. tomentellus, Acmispon strigosus
Other common names
Bishop's lotus
strigose bird's-foot-trefoil
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
1 to nearly 20 inches
Riparian
No
Trailing stems, often mat-forming, generally branched from base; leaflets 3 to 9, odd pinnate (terminal leaflet), narrower at base, somewhat rounded to narrow; leaf-like appendages at leaf bases gland-like, black; flowers pea-like (banner, wing and keel).
Annual, often fleshy, can be hairy, stems trail, often form mats, usually branched at base; leaves alternate, pinnate, 3 to 9 leaflets, narrower at base; stipules gland-like, black; flowers solitary, yellow; fruit often curved near tip, margins not wavy.
Habitat
Chaparral, foothills, deserts, roadsides, other disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers 1 to 2 per stalk, pea-like having banner, wings and keel, generally with bracts, wings generally longer than the keel; stigma slightly hairy to not hairy, sepals shorter than the flower tube, hairy.
Flower color
Yellow, turning orange or red in age
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Other
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves have leaflets on each side of the leaf stalk and a single leaflet at the tip of the leaf stalk (odd pinnate); leaf-like appendages at base of leaf stalk (stipules) gland-like, black. Herbage has straight, stiff, sharp, appressed hairs.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green, reddish margins
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruits split open when mature, erect or spreading, to 1-1/2 inches long, linear, generally curved near pointed tip, generally flat, margin not wavy.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Green
5 to 10 seeds per capsule, hard and smooth.