''Lotus'', a latinization of

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

'' lōtos'' (), is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

s that includes most bird's-foot trefoils (also known as bacon-and-eggs) and deervetches and contains many dozens of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

distributed worldwide. Depending on the taxonomic authority, roughly between 70 and 150 are accepted. ''Lotus'' is a genus of

legume A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock fo ...

s and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from coastal environments to high altitudes. The genus ''Lotus'' is currently undergoing extensive taxonomic revision. Species native to the Americas have been moved into other genera, such as '' Acmispon'' and '' Hosackia'', as in the second edition of ''

The Jepson Manual ''The Jepson Manual'' is a flora of the vascular plants that are either native to or naturalized in California. Botanists often refer to the book simply as ''Jepson''. It is produced by the University and Jepson Herbaria, of the University of Ca ...

''. The aquatic plant commonly known as the Indian or sacred lotus is ''

Nelumbo nucifera ''Nelumbo nucifera'', also known as sacred lotus, Laxmi lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a water lily, though this more often r ...

'', a species not closely related to ''Lotus''.

Description

Most species have leaves with five leaflets; two of these are at the extreme base of the leaf, with the other three at the tip of a naked midrib. This gives the appearance of a pair of large

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

s below a " petiole" bearing a trefoil of three leaflets – in fact, the true stipules are minute, soon falling or withering. C. A. Stace, ''Interactive Flora of the British Isles, a Digital Encyclopaedia'': ''Lotus''. .
Online version
) Some species have pinnate leaves with up to 15 leaflets. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

s are in clusters of three to ten together at the apex of a stem with some basal leafy bracts; they are

pea The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the flowering plant species ''Pisum sativum''. Each pod contains several peas, which can be green or yellow. Botanically, pea pods are fruit, since they contain seeds and d ...

-flower shaped, usually vivid yellow, but occasionally orange or red. The seeds develop in three or four straight, strongly diverging pods, which together make a shape reminiscent of the diverging toes of a small bird, leading to the common name "bird's-foot".

Taxonomy

The genus ''Lotus'' is taxonomically complex. It has at times been divided into subgenera and split into segregate genera, but with no consistent consensus. P.H. Raven in 1971 is said to have been the first to suggest that the "New World" (American) and "Old World" (African and Eurasian) species did not belong in the same genus. A

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study in 2000 based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences confirmed this view. The New World species have been divided between the genera '' Hosackia'' s.str., '' Ottleya'', '' Acmispon'' and '' Syrmatium''. A 2006 study, primarily concerned with Old World ''Lotus'' species and hence with limited sampling of the American genera, found that they were all

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic ...

. The study also supported the view that '' Dorycnium'' and '' Tetragonolobus'' are not distinct from ''Lotus'' at the generic level. More species were added to the 2006 results in 2008, but did not alter the broad conclusions reached before. Clades were identified within ''Lotus'' s.str., some of which were significantly different from the sections into which the genus had been divided. However, resolution was incomplete. The results of the analysis were presented in terms of clades and complexes.

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Lotus'': *''

Lotus aduncus } ''Lotus aduncus'' species of ''Lotus'' that is native in Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is ...

'' *''

Lotus aegaeus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus alianus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *''

Lotus alpinus ''Lotus alpinus'', common name alpine bird's-foot trefoil, is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. Description ''L. alpinus'' can reach a height of . It is a perennial herbaceous plant, typically sprawling horizontally at the height of t ...

'' - alpine bird's-foot-trefoil *''

Lotus anfractuosus ''Lotus anfractuosus'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus'' ranging from Vanuatu to New Caledonia. Description This species is identified by its flowers that look like vetch flowers. The leaves of this plant are succulent as are its stems. The flow ...

'' *''

Lotus angustissimus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' – slender bird's-foot trefoil *''

Lotus arabicus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus arenarius Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus argyrodes Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus arinagensis Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus assakensis'' *''

Lotus australis ''Lotus australis'', known by its common name of austral trefoil, is a small, spreading herb from the family Fabaceae. It normally grows to around 30–50 cm in height and is native to Australia. Leaves are of a trifoliate shape and are s ...

'' – austral trefoil *''

Lotus axilliflorus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus becquetii'' *''

Lotus benoistii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus berthelotii'' – Canary Islands trefoil *''

Lotus biflorus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus borbasii Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus broussonetii Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus brunneri'' *''

Lotus burttii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus callis-viridis Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus campylocladus'' *''

Lotus carpetanus ''Lotus carpetanus'' is a perennial plant in the genus ''Lotus'' native to the Iberian Peninsula and Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It ...

'' *''

Lotus castellanus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus chazaliei'' *'' Lotus compactus'' *''

Lotus conimbricensis Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus conjugatus ''Lotus conjugatus'' is a species of plant in the genus ''Lotus'' native from Sicily to Algeria and Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in norther ...

'' *''

Lotus corniculatus ''Lotus corniculatus'' is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to grasslands in temperate Eurasia and North Africa. Common names include common bird's-foot trefoil, eggs and bacon, birdsfoot deervetch, and just bird's-foot trefo ...

'' – common bird's-foot trefoil, bird's-foot deervetch *''

Lotus creticus ''Lotus creticus'' is a species of perennial herb of the family Fabaceae found in tropical Africa. It is symbiosis-competent and engages in nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interactions with species of the Ensifer genus 3]. It comprises three varieties ...

'' *''

Lotus cruentus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *'' Lotus cytisoides'' *'' Lotus × davyae'' *'' Lotus discolor'' *''

Lotus divaricatus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus dorycnium ''Lotus dorycnium'', previously known by the Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Dorycnium pentaphyllum'', common names: prostrate Canary clover and badassi, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus ''Lotus (genus), Lotus'' of the family ...

'' *''

Lotus drepanocarpus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus dumetorum'' *'' Lotus edulis'' *''

Lotus emeroides Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus eremiticus'' *''

Lotus eriophthalmus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *''

Lotus frondosus ''Lotus frondosus'' is a perennial plant from the '' Lotus genus'' ranging from E. Ukraine to Caucasus and Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, ...

'' *''

Lotus fulgurans ''Lotus fulgurans'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the Balearic Islands The Balearic Islands ( es, Islas Baleares ; or ca, Illes Balears ) are an archipelago in the Balearic Sea, near the eastern coas ...

'' *''

Lotus garcinii Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus gebelia'' *''

Lotus germanicus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus glacialis Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus glareosus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus glaucus'' *''

Lotus glinoides ''Lotus glinoides'' is a dwarf annual with retuse leaflets and pinkish purple flowers. It can be found in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and from North Africa to Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ...

'' *'' Lotus goetzei'' *''

Lotus gomerythus ''Lotus gomerythus'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus''. ''Lotus gomerythus'' is endemic to the Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipela ...

'' *'' Lotus graecus'' *''

Lotus halophilus ''Lotus halophilus'' is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,Lotus hebecarpus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus hebranicus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus herbaceus ''Lotus herbaceus'' is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus ''Lotus'' of the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,Lotus hirsutus ''Lotus hirsutus'', also known by the synonym ''Dorycnium hirsutum'', common name: canary clover or hairy canary-clover, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. Description It is a low-growing, domed semi- evergreen sub ...

'' *''

Lotus holosericeus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus jacobaeus'' *''

Lotus japonicus ''Lotus japonicus'' is a wild legume that belongs to family Fabaceae. Members of this family are very diverse, constituting about 20,000 species. They are of significant agricultural and biological importance as many of the legume species are r ...

'' *'' Lotus jolyi'' *'' Lotus jordanii'' *''

Lotus krylovii ''Lotus krylovii'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus fl ...

'' *''

Lotus kunkelii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

'' *''

Lotus lalambensis Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *'' Lotus lancerottensis'' *''

Lotus lanuginosus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus laricus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus latidentatus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *''

Lotus lebrunii ''Lotus lebrunii'' is species in the genus ''Lotus'' endemic to the DR Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, th ...

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Lotus longisiliquosus ''Lotus longisiliquosus'' is a plant in the ''Lotus'' genus that is native to The Mediterranean. It is also known as Judean Bird's Foot Trefoil or in Israel. Description the plant has three to four yellow generic Lotus Lotus may refer to: ...

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Lotus lourdes-santiagoi ''Lotus lourdes-santiagoi'' is a plant in the genus ''Lotus'' native to the areas around southern Spain. Date of discovery This plant was discovered in 2000. References lourdes-santiagoi Endemic flora of Spain Species described in 2 ...

'' *'' Lotus loweanus'' *''

Lotus macranthus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus maculatus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus maritimus ''Lotus maritimus'' is a species of plant in the legume A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agric ...

'' *''

Lotus maroccanus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus mascaensis'' *''

Lotus × medioximus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus michauxianus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *''

Lotus × minoricensis Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *''

Lotus miyakojimae Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus mlanjeanus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus mollis ''Lotus mollis'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of t ...

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Lotus namulensis Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus nubicus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus oliveirae Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus ononopsis ''Lotus ononopsis'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end o ...

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Lotus ornithopodioides ''Lotus ornithopodioides'', the southern bird's foot trefoil, is a species of annual herb in the family Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,

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Lotus palustris Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus parviflorus'' – smallflower bird's-foot trefoil, smallflower trefoil *''

Lotus peczoricus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus pedunculatus ''Lotus pedunculatus'' (formerly ''Lotus uliginosus''), the big trefoil, greater bird's-foot-trefoil or marsh bird's-foot trefoil, is a member of the pea family ( Fabaceae). It is a herbaceous perennial growing throughout Europe in damp, open lo ...

'' – greater bird's-foot trefoil, marsh bird's-foot trefoil, large bird's-foot trefoil, big trefoil *''

Lotus peregrinus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus polyphyllos Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus pseudocreticus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *'' Lotus purpureus'' *'' Lotus pyranthus'' *''

Lotus quinatus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus rechingeri Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus rectus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

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Lotus requienii Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

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Lotus robsonii Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

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Lotus sanguineus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

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Lotus schoelleri Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

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Lotus sessilifolius Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

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Lotus simoneae Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus spartioides Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus spectabilis Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae ** Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant al ...

'' *'' Lotus stepposus'' *'' Lotus strictus'' *'' Lotus subbiflorus'' – hairy bird's-foot trefoil *''

Lotus subdigitatus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus taitungensis'' *'' Lotus tenellus'' (including ''Lotus leptophyllus'' (Lowe) K.Larsen) *''

Lotus tenuis ''Lotus tenuis'' is a flowering plant of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western and southern Europe and southwest Asia. Some botanists treat it as a subspecies of ''Lotus corniculatus'', as ''L. corniculatus'' subsp. ''tenuifolius''. Its ...

'' – narrowleaf trefoil, slender trefoil, creeping trefoil, or prostrate trefoil *'' Lotus tetragonolobus'' *'' Lotus tetraphyllus'' *''

Lotus tibesticus Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus torulosus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus × ucrainicus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *'' Lotus villicarpus'' *''

Lotus weilleri Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

'' *''

Lotus wildii Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: **Lotus (genus), ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic As ...

'' *''

Lotus zemmouriensis Lotus may refer to: Plants * Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant als ...

Species placed elsewhere

*''Lotus aboriginus'' = '' Hosackia rosea'' *''Lotus argophyllus'' = '' Acmispon argophyllus'' *''Lotus argyraeus'' = '' Acmispon argyraeus'' *''Lotus benthamii'' = '' Acmispon cytisoides'' *''Lotus crassifolius'' = '' Hosackia crassifolia'' *''Lotus dendroideus'' = '' Acmispon dendroideus'' *''Lotus denticulatus'' = ''

Acmispon denticulatus ''Acmispon denticulatus'' (previously ''Lotus denticulatus'') is a species of Faboideae, legume known by the common name riverbar bird's-foot trefoil. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it gro ...

'' *''Lotus grandiflorus'' = '' Acmispon grandiflorus'' *''Lotus hamatus'' = '' Acmispon micranthus'' *''Lotus haydonii'' = '' Acmispon haydonii'' *''Lotus heermannii'' = '' Acmispon heermannii'' *''Lotus humistratus'' = '' Acmispon brachycarpus'' *''Lotus incanus'' = '' Hosackia incana'' *''Lotus junceus'' = '' Acmispon junceus'' *''Lotus mearnsii'' = ''

Acmispon mearnsii ''Acmispon mearnsii'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Lotus mearnsii'', is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae, legume family endemism, endemic to Arizona in the United States. It known by the common name Mearns' bird's-foot trefoil. In A ...

'' *''Lotus micranthus'' = '' Acmispon parviflorus'' *''Lotus nevadensis'' = '' Acmispon decumbens'' *''Lotus nuttallianus'' = '' Acmispon prostratus'' *''Lotus oblongifolius'' = '' Hosackia oblongifolia'' *''Lotus pinnatus'' = '' Hosackia pinnata'' *''Lotus procumbens'' = '' Acmispon procumbens'' *''Lotus rubriflorus'' = '' Acmispon rubriflorus'' *''Lotus salsuginosus'' = '' Acmispon maritimus'' *''Lotus stipularis'' = '' Hosackia stipularis'' *''Lotus wrightii'' = '' Ottleya wrightii''

Uses and ecology

''Lotus'' species are used as

food plants A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...

by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

e of some Lepidoptera species. Several species are cultivated for

forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also us ...

, including '' L. corniculatus'', '' L. glaber'', and '' L. pedunculatus''. They can produce toxic

cyanogenic glycoside In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides ...

s which can be potentially toxic to

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to anima ...

, but also produce

tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner ...

s, which are a beneficial anti-bloating compound. Species in this genus can fix

nitrogen Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at seve ...

from the air courtesy of their

root nodule Root nodules are found on the roots of plants, primarily legumes, that form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria know ...

s, making them useful as a

cover crop In agriculture, cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife i ...

. The nodulating

symbiont Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or paras ...

s are ''

Bradyrhizobium ''Bradyrhizobium'' is a genus of Gram-negative soil bacteria, many of which fix nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation is an important part of the nitrogen cycle. Plants cannot use atmospheric nitrogen (N2); they must use nitrogen compounds such as nitrat ...

'' and '' Mesorhizobium'' bacteria. Scientific research for crop improvement and understanding the general biology of the genus is focused on '' L. japonicus'', which is currently the subject of a

full genome sequencing Whole genome sequencing (WGS), also known as full genome sequencing, complete genome sequencing, or entire genome sequencing, is the process of determining the entirety, or nearly the entirety, of the DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a ...

project, and is considered a model organism. Some species, such as '' L. berthelotii'' from the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Mo ...

, are grown as ornamental plants. ''L. corniculatus'' is an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species adv ...

in some regions of North America and Australia.

References

External links

''Lotus'' species names
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q3645698 Fabaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus