Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil - Lotus subbiflorus
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Species Description
Scarce and localised in coastal regions in the south; rarely occurring as a casual inland. Habitat includes: Dry grassy places on neutral to acidic soils such as coastal cliffs, open grassland, banks, track-sides etc.
Stace 4:
Lotus subbiflorus Lag. (L. suaveolens Pers., L. parviflorus auct. non Desf., L. hispidus auct. non DC.) - Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil.
Hairy annual with procumbent to decumbent stems to 30(80)cm; leaflets narrowly ovate to obovate; flowers (1)2-4, 5-10mm, yellow; 2n=24. Native; dry grassy places near sea; very local in South West England East to West Sussex, Pembrokeshire, South West & South East Ireland, Channel Islands.
Key:
- Flowers yellow
- Fruit not winged, readily dehiscent when dry
- Annuals, with dense patent hairs; fruit mostly <2mm wide
- Fruit 6-15mm, ≤3x as long as calyx; keel with obtuse-angled bend near base of lower edge of limb
Useful Links:
Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora