Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Acmispon americanus var. americanus, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
8 to 18 inches
Riparian
Yes
Taprooted annual; trailing to erect. Simple stems may branch, hairy; leaves palmate, divided into 3 lance-shaped leaflets; each flower stalk has 1 leaf; flowers single, white to pink.
Annual, usually hairy; stems trailing to erect, simple or branched; lower leaves pinnate, leaflets usually 3, lance-like; stipules gland-like; flowers solitary, stalked, white, yellow or pink, wing's keel similar in length;Â fruit splits open at maturity.
Habitat
Chaparral, mountain forest, water courses, roadsides, other disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
7800
Flower Characteristics
Flowers solitary, in upper leaf nodes, attached by about 12 inches long hairy stalks; petals pink or white, yellow or darker pink tints; wing and keel petals are similar in size, larger banner petal is held at about 90 degrees, crossed by darker veins.
Flower color
White, yellow or pink
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
July
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves sometimes simple, usually have 3 leaflets, leaflets slightly folded along their axis, covered by relatively long hairs (especially underneath), as are the stems, though older stems tend to become hairless. Leaves have gland-like stipules at base.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Pods are up to 1-1/3 inches long, containing between 4 and 8 seeds.
Fruit type
Pod