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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Lotus formosissimus (Seaside bird's-foot trefoil)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Lotus formosissimus

Lotus formosissimus Greene

Seaside Bird's-foot Trefoil

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonym(s): Hosackia gracilis

USDA Symbol: LOFO2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Confined to far western North America from California north to British Columbia, where it is found only on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. For this reason, Canada lists it as an endangered species.

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: Stems sprawling, up to about 20 inches long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Habitat: Forest Edge

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FACW
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 62 - Burke Herbarium Image Collection (2020) University of Washington
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lotus formosissimus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lotus formosissimus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lotus formosissimus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-14
Research By: TWC Staff

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