''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

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'' and ''

Hosackia ''Hosackia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae (legumes). It is native to western North America, from British Columbia in Canada to Mexico. Taxonomy ''Hosackia'' belongs to a group of species traditionally placed in the tribe ...

'', as in the second edition of '' The Jepson Manual''. The aquatic plant commonly known as the Indian or sacred lotus is '' Nelumbo nucifera'', 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 stipules 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 flowers 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-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 ''

'' 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 ...

'', '' Acmispon'' 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'' 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 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 alianus 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 al ...

'' *''

Lotus alpinus ''Lotus alpinus'', common name alpine bird's-foot trefoil, is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. Description ''L. alpinus'' can reach a height of . It is a perennial herbaceous plant, typically sprawling horizontally at the height of t ...

'' - alpine bird's-foot-trefoil *''

Lotus anfractuosus ''Lotus anfractuosus'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus'' ranging from Vanuatu to New Caledonia. Description This species is identified by its flowers that look like vetch flowers. The leaves of this plant are succulent as are its stems. The flow ...

'' *''

Lotus angustissimus 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 als ...

'' – slender bird's-foot trefoil *''

Lotus arabicus 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 arenarius 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 argyrodes 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 arinagensis 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 assakensis'' *''

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 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 becquetii'' *''

Lotus benoistii 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 berthelotii'' – Canary Islands trefoil *''

Lotus biflorus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus borbasii 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus broussonetii 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 als ...

'' *'' Lotus brunneri'' *''

Lotus burttii 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 callis-viridis 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 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 carpetanus'' is a perennial plant in the genus ''Lotus'' native to the Iberian Peninsula and Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It ...

'' *''

Lotus castellanus 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 chazaliei'' *'' Lotus compactus'' *''

Lotus conimbricensis 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus conjugatus ''Lotus conjugatus'' is a species of plant in the genus ''Lotus'' native from Sicily to Algeria and Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in norther ...

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

Lotus creticus ''Lotus creticus'' is a species of perennial herb of the family Fabaceae found in tropical Africa. It is symbiosis-competent and engages in nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interactions with species of the Ensifer genus 3]. It comprises three varieties ...

'' *''

Lotus cruentus 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 cytisoides'' *'' Lotus × davyae'' *''

Lotus discolor 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 divaricatus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus dorycnium ''Lotus dorycnium'', previously known by the Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Dorycnium pentaphyllum'', common names: prostrate Canary clover and badassi, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus ''Lotus (genus), Lotus'' of the family ...

'' *''

Lotus drepanocarpus 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 als ...

'' *'' Lotus dumetorum'' *'' Lotus edulis'' *''

Lotus emeroides 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 eremiticus'' *''

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 frondosus'' is a perennial plant from the '' Lotus genus'' ranging from E. Ukraine to Caucasus and Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, ...

'' *''

Lotus fulgurans ''Lotus fulgurans'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the Balearic Islands The Balearic Islands ( es, Islas Baleares ; or ca, Illes Balears ) are an archipelago in the Balearic Sea, near the eastern coas ...

'' *''

Lotus garcinii 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 als ...

'' *'' Lotus gebelia'' *''

Lotus germanicus 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 glacialis 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 glareosus 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 glaucus'' *''

Lotus glinoides ''Lotus glinoides'' is a dwarf annual with retuse leaflets and pinkish purple flowers. It can be found in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and from North Africa to Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ...

'' *'' Lotus goetzei'' *''

Lotus gomerythus ''Lotus gomerythus'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus''. ''Lotus gomerythus'' is endemic to the Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipela ...

'' *'' Lotus graecus'' *''

Lotus halophilus ''Lotus halophilus'' is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,Lotus hebecarpus 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 hebranicus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus herbaceus ''Lotus herbaceus'' is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus ''Lotus'' of the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,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 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 als ...

'' *'' Lotus jacobaeus'' *''

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 jordanii'' *''

Lotus krylovii ''Lotus krylovii'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus 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 fl ...

'' *''

Lotus kunkelii 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 lalambensis 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 al ...

'' *''

Lotus lancerottensis 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 lanuginosus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus laricus 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 latidentatus 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 al ...

'' *''

Lotus lebrunii ''Lotus lebrunii'' is species in the genus ''Lotus'' endemic to the DR Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, th ...

'' *''

Lotus longisiliquosus ''Lotus longisiliquosus'' is a plant in the ''Lotus'' genus that is native to The Mediterranean. It is also known as Judean Bird's Foot Trefoil or in Israel. Description the plant has three to four yellow generic Lotus Lotus may refer to: ...

'' *''

Lotus lourdes-santiagoi ''Lotus lourdes-santiagoi'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus'' native to the areas around southern Spain. Date of discovery This plant was discovered in 2000. References lourdes-santiagoi Endemic flora of Spain Species described in 2 ...

'' *'' Lotus loweanus'' *''

Lotus macranthus 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 als ...

'' *''

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 maritimus'' is a species of plant in the legume family, native to Europe, Africa and temperate Asia. It is one of several species known as dragon's teeth.Walter Erhardt et al. ''The Timber Press Dictionary of Plant Names,'' 734, 794 (20 ...

'' *''

Lotus maroccanus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus mascaensis 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 × medioximus 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 michauxianus 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 al ...

'' *''

Lotus × minoricensis 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 al ...

'' *''

Lotus miyakojimae 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus mlanjeanus 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 mollis ''Lotus mollis'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of t ...

'' *''

Lotus namulensis 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus nubicus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus oliveirae 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus ononopsis ''Lotus ononopsis'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end o ...

'' *''

Lotus ornithopodioides ''Lotus ornithopodioides'', the southern bird's foot trefoil, is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,

'' *''

Lotus palustris 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 als ...

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

Lotus peczoricus 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 pedunculatus'' – greater bird's-foot trefoil, marsh bird's-foot trefoil, large bird's-foot trefoil, big trefoil *''

Lotus peregrinus 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 polyphyllos 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus pseudocreticus 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 als ...

'' *'' Lotus purpureus'' *'' Lotus pyranthus'' *''

Lotus quinatus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus rechingeri 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 rectus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus requienii 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus robsonii 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus sanguineus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus schoelleri 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus sessilifolius 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 al ...

'' *''

Lotus simoneae 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 spartioides 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus spectabilis 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 al ...

'' *'' Lotus stepposus'' *''

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 ''Lotus subbiflorus'', hairy bird's-foot trefoil, is a flowering plant of the pea family Fabaceae. It is a finely hairy annual plant, growing in dry, sandy ground, often near the sea, and producing sprawling stems with clusters of two to four le ...

'' – hairy bird's-foot trefoil *''

Lotus subdigitatus 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 taitungensis'' *'' Lotus tenellus'' (including ''Lotus leptophyllus'' (Lowe) K.Larsen) *''

Lotus tenuis ''Lotus tenuis'' is a flowering plant of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western and southern Europe and southwest Asia. Some botanists treat it as a subspecies of ''Lotus corniculatus'', as ''L. corniculatus'' subsp. ''tenuifolius''. Its ...

'' – 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 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 tibesticus 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus torulosus 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 × ucrainicus 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 villicarpus 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 weilleri 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 als ...

'' *''

Lotus wildii 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 zemmouriensis 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 als ...

Species placed elsewhere

*''Lotus aboriginus'' = '' Hosackia rosea'' *''Lotus argophyllus'' = '' Acmispon argophyllus'' *''Lotus argyraeus'' = '' Acmispon argyraeus'' *''Lotus benthamii'' = ''

Acmispon cytisoides ''Acmispon cytisoides'', synonyms ''Lotus benthamii'' and ''Syrmatium cytisoides'', is a species of legume native to California. It is known by the common names Bentham's broom and Bentham's deerweed. It is endemic to central California, where it ...

'' *''Lotus crassifolius'' = '' Hosackia crassifolia'' *''Lotus dendroideus'' = '' Acmispon dendroideus'' *''Lotus denticulatus'' = ''

Acmispon denticulatus ''Acmispon denticulatus'' (previously ''Lotus denticulatus'') is a species of Faboideae, legume known by the common name riverbar bird's-foot trefoil. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it gro ...

'' *''Lotus grandiflorus'' = '' Acmispon grandiflorus'' *''Lotus hamatus'' = '' Acmispon micranthus'' *''Lotus haydonii'' = ''

Acmispon haydonii ''Acmispon haydonii'', synonyms ''Lotus haydonii'' and ''Syrmatium haydonii'', is a species of legume native to California It is known by the common names pygmy lotus, rock bird's-foot trefoil and Haydon's lotus. It is native to the dry mountain ...

'' *''Lotus heermannii'' = ''

Acmispon heermannii ''Acmispon heermannii'' (formerly '' Lotus heermannii'') is a species of legume (Fabaceae) known by the common names Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil and Heermann's lotus. It is native to the coastal plains, canyons, and mountains of California and ...

'' *''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'' *''Lotus junceus'' = ''

Acmispon junceus ''Acmispon junceus'', synonyms ''Lotus junceus'' and ''Syrmatium junceum'', is a species of legume native to California. It is known by the common names rush broom and rush deervetch. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the northe ...

'' *''Lotus mearnsii'' = ''

Acmispon mearnsii ''Acmispon mearnsii'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Lotus mearnsii'', is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae, legume family endemism, endemic to Arizona in the United States. It known by the common name Mearns' bird's-foot trefoil. In A ...

'' *''Lotus micranthus'' = ''

Acmispon parviflorus ''Acmispon parviflorus'', synonym ''Lotus micranthus'', is a species of legume. It is known by the common name desert deervetch. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to southern California, where it is known from many type ...

'' *''Lotus nevadensis'' = ''

Acmispon decumbens ''Acmispon decumbens'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the western United States (Nevada, California) and north-western Mexico (Baja California). It was first described by George Bentham in 1836 as ''Hosackia de ...

'' *''Lotus nuttallianus'' = ''

Acmispon prostratus ''Acmispon prostratus'', synonyms ''Lotus nuttallianus'' and ''Syrmatium prostratum'', is a species of legume native to California and northwestern Mexico. It is known by the common names beach lotus, Nuttall's lotus, and wire bird's-foot trefoil ...

'' *''Lotus oblongifolius'' = '' Hosackia oblongifolia'' *''Lotus pinnatus'' = '' Hosackia pinnata'' *''Lotus procumbens'' = ''

Acmispon procumbens ''Acmispon procumbens'', synonym ''Lotus procumbens'', is a species of legume endemic to California. It is known by the common name silky deerweed. It is known from many habitat types in several regions from the Central Valley to the Mojave Dese ...

'' *''Lotus rubriflorus'' = ''

Acmispon rubriflorus ''Acmispon rubriflorus'', synonym ''Lotus rubriflorus'', is a species of legume endemic to California. It is known by the common name red-flowered bird's-foot trefoil. It is known from only four occurrences with a disjunct distribution. Locatio ...

'' *''Lotus salsuginosus'' = ''

Acmispon maritimus ''Acmispon maritimus'', synonym ''Lotus salsuginosus'', is a species of legume native to Arizona, California and northwestern Mexico. It is known by the common name coastal bird's-foot trefoil. It grows in many types of mountain, desert, and scru ...

'' *''Lotus stipularis'' = ''

Hosackia stipularis ''Hosackia stipularis'', synonym ''Lotus stipularis'', is a species of legume endemic to California. It is known by the common name balsam bird's-foot trefoil. It is found in most of the northern and central coastal and inland mountain ranges an ...

'' *''Lotus wrightii'' = ''

Ottleya wrightii ''Ottleya wrightii'', synonym ''Lotus wrightii'', is a species of legume native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah). It is also said to occur in Nevada. It is known as Wright's deervetch. It has yellow fl ...

Uses and ecology

''Lotus'' species are used as

food plants A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...

by the larvae 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, including '' L. corniculatus'', '' L. glaber'', and '' L. pedunculatus''. They can produce toxic cyanogenic glycosides which can be potentially toxic to livestock, but also produce tannins, which are a beneficial anti-bloating compound. Species in this genus can fix nitrogen 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 symbionts 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 ''Mesorhizobium'' is a genus of Gram-negative soil bacteria. At least one, the nitrogen fixing species, ''Mesorhizobium loti'', forms symbiotic root nodules with plants in the genus '' Lotus''. Strain MAFF303099 of ''M. japonicum'' has been full ...

'' 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 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