Seasonal Wild Flowers

Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil

Lotus pedunculatus

Large Bird's-foot-trefoil

Fabaceae

June to August

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil

It grows in wet, marshy grassland such as damp meadows,

next to water courses. and in grassland affected by run-off

from roads.

Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil is a native, stoloniferous (patch-

forming), perennial herb, growing up to 1m.

It is larger than Bird's-foot-trefoil (May).

Flowerheads are on long stalks (up to 15cm) and contain

between 5 and 12 flowers.

Flowers are up to 12mm and are a rich, dull yellow.

The calyx is spreading in bud with the upper 2 sepals

more acute.

The fruiting pods form a bird's-foot shape.

Leaflets are up to 2cm and obovate (inverted ovals).

Stems are hollow.

The plant can be hairy or not.

Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil,

Powerstock Common, Dorset

Flowerhead on long stem

Flowerhead

Flower - spreading calyx

Bird's-foot fruiting body - pods

Obovate leaflets

Hairy stem and basal leaflets