Practical
Plants

Lotus corniculatus

Bird's Foot Trefoil

a perennial member of the Lotus genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Lotus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, containing cyanogenic glycosides(hydrogen cyanide)[12][15]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death. This species is polymorphic for cyanogenic glycosides[7]. The flowers of some forms of the plant contain traces of prussic acid and so the plants can become mildly toxic when flowering[7]. They are completely innocuous when dried[7].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The young seedpods are 'nibbled'[4]. Caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Seedpod

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Carminative, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, restorative, vermifuge[5]. The flowers are antispasmodic, cardiotonic and sedative[13]. The root is carminative, febrifuge, restorative and tonic[7]. The plant is used externally as a local anti-inflammatory compress in all cases of skin inflammation[13].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Cardiotonic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic
Product or use
Restorative
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An orange-yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[14]. A useful green manure plant, fixing atmospheric nitrogen[13]. It is difficult to see this plant as a useful green manure, it is fairly slow growing with us and does not produce much bulk[K].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.
Habitat
Pastures and sunny banks of streams, especially on calcareous soils[13][2][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in the spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 15°c. If seed is in short supply, it can be sown in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[6]. Dislikes shade[6]. Does well on poor soils[11]. An important food plant for many caterpillars[10]. It is also a good bee plant[14], the flowers providing an important source of nectar[8]. The flowers are powerfully scented, even though they are able to pollinate themselves[9]. The plant spreads very freely at the roots[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

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  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

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  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

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  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  10. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

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  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  12. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  13. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  15. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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