''Lotus'', a latinization of

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

'' lōtos'' (), is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s that includes most bird's-foot trefoils (also known as bacon-and-eggs) and deervetches and contains many dozens of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

distributed worldwide. Depending on the

taxonomic Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

authority, roughly between 70 and 150 are accepted. ''Lotus'' is a genus of

legume A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...

s and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from coastal environments to high altitudes. The genus ''Lotus'' is currently undergoing extensive taxonomic revision. Species native to the Americas have been moved into other genera, such as ''

Acmispon ''Acmispon'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legumes), native to North America and the west coast of Chile in South America. It includes several species of American bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches formerly contained in ...

'' and '' Hosackia'', as in the second edition of ''

The Jepson Manual ''The Jepson Manual'' is a flora of the vascular plants that are either native to or naturalized in California. Botanists often refer to the book simply as ''Jepson''. It is produced by the University and Jepson Herbaria, of the University of Cali ...

''. The aquatic plant commonly known as the Indian or sacred lotus is ''

Nelumbo nucifera ''Nelumbo nucifera'', also known as sacred lotus, Laxmi lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a water lily, though this more often re ...

'', a species not closely related to ''Lotus''.

Description

Most species have

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

with five leaflets; two of these are at the extreme base of the leaf, with the other three at the tip of a naked midrib. This gives the appearance of a pair of large

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

s below a " petiole" bearing a trefoil of three leaflets – in fact, the true stipules are minute, soon falling or withering.

C. A. Stace Clive Anthony Stace (born 1938) is a British botanist and botanical author. He studied at King's College London, graduated from University of London in 1959 and then studied at the Natural History Museum, London. He was awarded a PhD in 1963. ...

, ''Interactive Flora of the British Isles, a Digital Encyclopaedia'': ''Lotus''. .
Online version
) Some species have pinnate leaves with up to 15 leaflets. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s are in clusters of three to ten together at the apex of a stem with some basal leafy

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s; they are

pea The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the flowering plant species ''Pisum sativum''. Each pod contains several peas, which can be green or yellow. Botanically, pea pods are fruit, since they contain seeds and d ...

-flower shaped, usually vivid yellow, but occasionally orange or red. The seeds develop in three or four straight, strongly diverging pods, which together make a shape reminiscent of the diverging toes of a small bird, leading to the common name "bird's-foot".

Taxonomy

The genus ''Lotus'' is taxonomically complex. It has at times been divided into subgenera and split into segregate genera, but with no consistent consensus. P.H. Raven in 1971 is said to have been the first to suggest that the "New World" (American) and "Old World" (African and Eurasian) species did not belong in the same genus. A

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study in 2000 based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences confirmed this view. The New World species have been divided between the genera '' Hosackia'' s.str., ''

Ottleya ''Ottleya'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae (legumes). It is native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah) and to Mexico. Taxonomy ''Ottleya'' belongs to a gro ...

'', ''

'' and ''

Syrmatium ''Syrmatium'' was a formerly accepted genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae (legumes), native to the southwestern United States. , it was considered a synonym of ''Acmispon'' by Plants of the World Online, and only ''Acmispon'' was r ...

''. A 2006 study, primarily concerned with Old World ''Lotus'' species and hence with limited sampling of the American genera, found that they were all

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

. The study also supported the view that ''

Dorycnium ''Lotus'', a latinization of Greek '' lōtos'' (), is a genus of flowering plants that includes most bird's-foot trefoils (also known as bacon-and-eggs) and deervetches and contains many dozens of species distributed worldwide. Depending on the ...

'' and ''

Tetragonolobus ''Lotus'', a latinization of Greek '' lōtos'' (), is a genus of flowering plants that includes most bird's-foot trefoils (also known as bacon-and-eggs) and deervetches and contains many dozens of species distributed worldwide. Depending on the ...

'' are not distinct from ''Lotus'' at the generic level. More species were added to the 2006 results in 2008, but did not alter the broad conclusions reached before. Clades were identified within ''Lotus'' s.str., some of which were significantly different from the sections into which the genus had been divided. However, resolution was incomplete. The results of the analysis were presented in terms of clades and complexes.

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Lotus'': *''

Lotus aduncus } ''Lotus aduncus'' species of '' Lotus'' that is native in Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is ...

'' *'' Lotus aegaeus'' *'' Lotus alianus'' *'' Lotus alpinus'' - alpine bird's-foot-trefoil *'' Lotus anfractuosus'' *'' Lotus angustissimus'' – slender bird's-foot trefoil *'' Lotus arabicus'' *'' Lotus arenarius'' *'' Lotus argyrodes'' *'' Lotus arinagensis'' *''

Lotus assakensis Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus australis ''Lotus australis'', known by its common name of austral trefoil, is a small, spreading herb from the family Fabaceae. It normally grows to around 30–50 cm in height and is native to Australia. Leaves are of a trifoliate shape and are s ...

'' – austral trefoil *'' Lotus axilliflorus'' *''

Lotus becquetii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus benoistii'' *''

Lotus berthelotii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' – Canary Islands trefoil *'' Lotus biflorus'' *'' Lotus borbasii'' *'' Lotus broussonetii'' *''

Lotus brunneri Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus burttii'' *'' Lotus callis-viridis'' *''

Lotus campylocladus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus carpetanus'' *'' Lotus castellanus'' *''

Lotus chazaliei Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus compactus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus conimbricensis'' *'' Lotus conjugatus'' *''

Lotus corniculatus ''Lotus corniculatus'' is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to grasslands in temperate Eurasia and North Africa. Common names include common bird's-foot trefoil, eggs and bacon, birdsfoot deervetch, and just bird's-foot trefoi ...

'' – common bird's-foot trefoil, bird's-foot deervetch *'' Lotus creticus'' *'' Lotus cruentus'' *''

Lotus cytisoides ''Lotus cytisoides'' is a species of perennial herb in the family Fabaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and compound, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 0.11 m. Sources References {{Taxonbar, from=Q3260086 cytisoides Flo ...

'' *''

Lotus × davyae Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus discolor'' *'' Lotus divaricatus'' *'' Lotus dorycnium'' *'' Lotus drepanocarpus'' *''

Lotus dumetorum Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus edulis ''Lotus edulis'' is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and compound, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 0.14 m. Sources References {{Taxonbar, from=Q15435674 edulis Flora of Mal ...

'' *'' Lotus emeroides'' *''

Lotus eremiticus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus eriophthalmus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus frondosus'' *'' Lotus fulgurans'' *'' Lotus garcinii'' *''

Lotus gebelia Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus germanicus'' *'' Lotus glacialis'' *'' Lotus glareosus'' *''

Lotus glaucus ''Lotus glaucus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Madeira and the Salvage Islands. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with leaves made up of five leaflets. Its flowers are usually orange on opening. ''Lotus te ...

'' *'' Lotus glinoides'' *''

Lotus goetzei Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus gomerythus'' *''

Lotus graecus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus halophilus'' *'' Lotus hebecarpus'' *'' Lotus hebranicus'' *'' Lotus herbaceus'' *''

Lotus hirsutus ''Lotus hirsutus'', also known by the Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Dorycnium hirsutum'', common name: canary clover or hairy canary-clover, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family (botany), family Fabaceae. Description It is a low- ...

'' *'' Lotus holosericeus'' *''

Lotus jacobaeus ''Lotus jacobaeus'' is a species of flowering plant of the family Fabaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde.Oromí, Martín, Zurita & Cabrera, 2005 : Lista preliminar de especies silvestres de Cabo Verde: Hongos, Plantas y Animales Terrestre ...

'' *''

Lotus japonicus ''Lotus japonicus'' is a wild legume that belongs to family Fabaceae. Members of this family are very diverse, constituting about 20,000 species. They are of significant agricultural and biological importance as many of the legume species are ri ...

'' *''

Lotus jolyi Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus jordanii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus krylovii'' *'' Lotus kunkelii'' *'' Lotus lalambensis'' *'' Lotus lancerottensis'' *'' Lotus lanuginosus'' *'' Lotus laricus'' *'' Lotus latidentatus'' *'' Lotus lebrunii'' *'' Lotus longisiliquosus'' *'' Lotus lourdes-santiagoi'' *''

Lotus loweanus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus macranthus'' *''

Lotus maculatus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus maritimus'' *'' Lotus maroccanus'' *'' Lotus mascaensis'' *'' Lotus × medioximus'' *'' Lotus michauxianus'' *'' Lotus × minoricensis'' *'' Lotus miyakojimae'' *'' Lotus mlanjeanus'' *'' Lotus mollis'' *'' Lotus namulensis'' *'' Lotus nubicus'' *'' Lotus oliveirae'' *'' Lotus ononopsis'' *'' Lotus ornithopodioides'' *'' Lotus palustris'' *''

Lotus parviflorus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' – smallflower bird's-foot trefoil, smallflower trefoil *'' Lotus peczoricus'' *''

Lotus pedunculatus ''Lotus pedunculatus'' (formerly ''Lotus uliginosus''), the big trefoil, greater bird's-foot-trefoil or marsh bird's-foot trefoil, is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae). It is a herbaceous perennial growing throughout Europe in damp, open loc ...

'' – greater bird's-foot trefoil, marsh bird's-foot trefoil, large bird's-foot trefoil, big trefoil *'' Lotus peregrinus'' *'' Lotus polyphyllos'' *'' Lotus pseudocreticus'' *''

Lotus purpureus ''Lotus purpureus'', known as asparagus-pea or winged pea, is an annual leguminous herb native to the countries around the Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin a ...

'' *''

Lotus pyranthus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus quinatus'' *'' Lotus rechingeri'' *'' Lotus rectus'' *'' Lotus requienii'' *'' Lotus robsonii'' *'' Lotus sanguineus'' *'' Lotus schoelleri'' *'' Lotus sessilifolius'' *'' Lotus simoneae'' *'' Lotus spartioides'' *'' Lotus spectabilis'' *''

Lotus stepposus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus strictus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus subbiflorus'' – hairy bird's-foot trefoil *'' Lotus subdigitatus'' *''

Lotus taitungensis Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus tenellus ''Lotus tenellus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the Canary Islands. Some authors have included ''L. tenellus'' in '' Lotus glaucus'', a species found in Madeira and the Salvage Islands. ''L. lept ...

'' (including ''Lotus leptophyllus'' (Lowe) K.Larsen) *'' Lotus tenuis'' – narrowleaf trefoil, slender trefoil, creeping trefoil, or prostrate trefoil *''

Lotus tetragonolobus ''Lotus purpureus'', known as asparagus-pea or winged pea, is an annual legume, leguminous herb native to the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, although introduced elsewhere. It is low growing, and produces a profusion of pr ...

'' *'' Lotus tetraphyllus'' *'' Lotus tibesticus'' *'' Lotus torulosus'' *'' Lotus × ucrainicus'' *'' Lotus villicarpus'' *'' Lotus weilleri'' *'' Lotus wildii'' *'' Lotus zemmouriensis''

Species placed elsewhere

*''Lotus aboriginus'' = ''

Hosackia rosea ''Hosackia rosea'', synonym ''Lotus aboriginus'', is a species of legume native to North America. It is known by the common names rosy bird's-foot trefoil and thicket trefoil. It grows in mountains and canyons, often in moist areas. It is a pere ...

'' *''Lotus argophyllus'' = ''

Acmispon argophyllus ''Acmispon argophyllus'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Lotus argophyllus'', is a species of Faboideae, legume native to California and northwest Mexico. It is known by the common name silver bird's-foot trefoil or silver lotus.Acmispon argyraeus'' *''Lotus benthamii'' = '' Acmispon cytisoides'' *''Lotus crassifolius'' = ''

Hosackia crassifolia ''Hosackia crassifolia'', synonym ''Lotus crassifolius'', is a species of legume native to Washington, California and Oregon. It is known by the common names big deervetch and broad-leafed lotus. Distribution The plant is native to western North ...

'' *''Lotus dendroideus'' = ''

Acmispon dendroideus ''Acmispon dendroideus'', synonym ''Syrmatium veatchii'', is a species of legume native to California. It is known by the common name island broom. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California, where it grows on coastal bluffs and cliffs. ...

'' *''Lotus denticulatus'' = '' Acmispon denticulatus'' *''Lotus grandiflorus'' = ''

Acmispon grandiflorus ''Acmispon grandiflorus'', synonym ''Lotus grandiflorus'', is a species of legume native to western North America. It is known by the common name chaparral bird's-foot trefoil. It is native to the west coast of North America from Washington t ...

'' *''Lotus hamatus'' = ''

Acmispon micranthus ''Acmispon micranthus'' is a species of legume native to California and northwestern Mexico. It is known by the common name San Diego bird's-foot trefoil. It is found in the coastal mountain ranges of California and Baja California, where it gro ...

'' *''Lotus haydonii'' = '' Acmispon haydonii'' *''Lotus heermannii'' = '' Acmispon heermannii'' *''Lotus humistratus'' = ''

Acmispon brachycarpus ''Acmispon brachycarpus'' (formerly ''Lotus humistratus''Jepson Manual, Vascular Plants of California, 2nd ed., 2012, p. 725) is a species of legume known by the common name foothill deervetch. It is native to western North America from Idaho to ...

'' *''Lotus incanus'' = ''

Hosackia incana ''Hosackia incana'', synonym ''Lotus incanus'', is a species of legume native to California. It is known by the common name woolly bird's-foot trefoil. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California, where it grows in forests and other mountai ...

'' *''Lotus junceus'' = '' Acmispon junceus'' *''Lotus mearnsii'' = '' Acmispon mearnsii'' *''Lotus micranthus'' = '' Acmispon parviflorus'' *''Lotus nevadensis'' = '' Acmispon decumbens'' *''Lotus nuttallianus'' = '' Acmispon prostratus'' *''Lotus oblongifolius'' = ''

Hosackia oblongifolia ''Hosackia oblongifolia'', synonym ''Lotus oblongifolius'', is a species of legume native to western North America from Oregon to northern Mexico. It is known by the common name streambank bird's-foot trefoil or meadow lotus. It grows in moist t ...

'' *''Lotus pinnatus'' = ''

Hosackia pinnata ''Hosackia pinnata'', synonym ''Lotus pinnatus'', is a species of legume native to western North America from British Columbia to California. It is known by the common names meadow bird's-foot trefoil and bog bird's-foot trefoil. Its distributio ...

'' *''Lotus procumbens'' = '' Acmispon procumbens'' *''Lotus rubriflorus'' = '' Acmispon rubriflorus'' *''Lotus salsuginosus'' = '' Acmispon maritimus'' *''Lotus stipularis'' = '' Hosackia stipularis'' *''Lotus wrightii'' = '' Ottleya wrightii''

Uses and ecology

''Lotus'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species. Several species are cultivated for

forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used m ...

, including '' L. corniculatus'', '' L. glaber'', and '' L. pedunculatus''. They can produce toxic

cyanogenic glycoside In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. ...

s which can be potentially toxic to

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animals ...

, but also produce

tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'', ...

s, which are a beneficial anti-bloating compound. Species in this genus can fix

nitrogen Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...

from the air courtesy of their

root nodule Root nodules are found on the roots of plants, primarily legumes, that form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria known a ...

s, making them useful as a

cover crop In agriculture, cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife i ...

. The nodulating

symbiont Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

s are ''

Bradyrhizobium ''Bradyrhizobium'' is a genus of Gram-negative soil bacteria, many of which fix nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation is an important part of the nitrogen cycle. Plants cannot use atmospheric nitrogen (N2); they must use nitrogen compounds such as nitrat ...

'' and '' Mesorhizobium'' bacteria. Scientific research for crop improvement and understanding the general biology of the genus is focused on '' L. japonicus'', which is currently the subject of a

full genome sequencing Whole genome sequencing (WGS), also known as full genome sequencing, complete genome sequencing, or entire genome sequencing, is the process of determining the entirety, or nearly the entirety, of the DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a ...

project, and is considered a

model organism A model organism (often shortened to model) is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the model organism will provide insight into the workin ...

. Some species, such as '' L. berthelotii'' from the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

, are grown as ornamental plants. ''L. corniculatus'' is an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

in some regions of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

References

External links

''Lotus'' species names
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q3645698 Fabaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus