Practical
Plants

Lotus uliginosus

Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Lotus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.35 m
Fertility
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.

No reports of toxicity have been seen for this species but at least one member of the genus contains toxic cyanogenic glycosides[5][7].

Material uses

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

An insecticide is obtained from the plant[1]. No more details are given. This species is used as a pioneer plant in the reclamation of peat and pumice soils and on other wet acid soils that are unsuitable for the more commonly used Trifolium spp[2].

Product or use
Insecticide

Ecology and functions

Soil builder

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
S.W. Europe - Portugal, Spain.
Habitat
Marshes, ditches, freshwater margins and wet grassland[3][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
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 situ in the spring or autumn. 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.

Succeeds in wet acid soils[2]. Dislikes shade[2]. Does well on poor soils[4]. Suitable for naturalistic and conservation plantings in situations that approximate to its natural habitat[2]. A good bee plant[6]. 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[2].

References

  1. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  3. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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

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

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

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  7. 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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