Lotus corniculatus L.

Bird's-foot Trefoil, Birdfoot Deervetch, Bloomfell, Cat's Clover, Crowtoes, Ground Honeysuckle

Category
Forb/Herb

Description

A perennial, fine-stemmed, leafy legume (pea family, Fabaceae) that grows 6-24 inches in height.

Stem

Erect stems are nearly square, emerge from a single root crown and have many branches that can become tangled and matted.

Leaves

Clover-like leaves are pinnately compound, alternate, and consist of three oval leaflets and two smaller leaflet-like stipules that grow at the base of the leaf stalk.

Flowers

Flowers are bright yellow, sometimes streaked with red, ½ inch long, born in flat-topped clusters of three to six at the end of stems, and bloom from June to frost.

Fruit

Clusters of slender brown to black seed pods are cylindrical, resemble a bird’s foot, and contain 10-20 seeds that eject when mature.

Images

Photo: Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org
More images of Lotus corniculatus

Life History

3. Habitat

It is located in roadsides, waste areas, fields, prairies, wildlife openings, and open disturbed areas. It tolerates a variety of soil types including dry, moist, hardpan or droughty soils. It is a common lawn weed in western NY.

Origin and Distribution

Originally from Europe, Lotus corniculatus L. can be found in the following states/territories: USA (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY), CAN (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT), FRA (SPM)

h2. Management Recommendations

Mechanical Controls

Dig up small infestations, remove all root fragments; frequent mowing at a height of 2” for several years helps control the plant, but can set back native plants. Note: Control burns are not recommended because they increase seed germination and promote seedling establishment

Herbicidal Controls

L. corniculatus can be effectively controlled with general use herbicides such as: clopyralid, glyphosate, and triclopyr.

Biological Controls

One fungal associate, Erysiphe betae and seven species of arthropods are reported to occur on Lotus including one bug and six lepidopterans.

Bibliography

USDA

USDA Forest Service. 2006. Bird's-Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus. "Weed of the Week":http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasiveplants/weeds/birds-foot-trefoil.pdf