Lotus formosissimus
| Lotus formosissimus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Loteae |
| Genus: | Lotus |
| Species: | L. formosissimus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lotus formosissimus Greene | |
Lotus formosissimus is a species of legume known by the common name seaside bird's-foot trefoil. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in moist spots in the coastal mountains and down to the oceanside bluffs. It is a perennial herb growing upright or spreading to about half a meter in maximum length. It is lined with leaves each made up of a few oppositely arranged oval leaflets up to 2 centimeters long. The inflorescence is made up of several pealike flowers each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flower has a bright yellow banner, or upper petal, and bright pink or white lower petals. The fruit is a legume pod 2 or 3 centimeters long.