What plant is birdsfoot trefoil? This article will give you a real understanding of it

Order Rosales, family Fabaceae, genus Lotus, Latin scientific name: Lotus corniculatus L.

Five-leaf clover, bird's-foot bean, horned flower

Birdsfoot trefoil is native to the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, and is now found throughout the world. In China it is mostly used as forage grass, and it is distributed relatively abundantly in the southwestern region of China. It is also a very good plant for soil and water conservation.

The plant height of birdsfoot trefoil is 15-50 cm. The main root is obvious, and the lateral roots branch abundantly; the stems and branches grow in clumps and creep along the ground, the stems are smooth, and the stem length is about 70 cm; at the stem tip there are trifoliate compound leaves, the leaf blades are obovate, and the two large stipules are very close to the leaf blades, so it is also called five-leaf clover; umbel inflorescence, with about 4-8 flowers at the tip of the peduncle, the flower color is pale yellow or bright yellow; the pod is located at the tip of the peduncle and splits open, very much like a bird's foot, hence the other name bird's-foot bean; the seed is brown and kidney-shaped.

Birdsfoot trefoil likes a warm and humid climate, and the most suitable growth temperature is 18-25°C; seedlings are not cold-resistant, and adult plants have slightly stronger cold resistance, but below 5°C the stems and leaves turn yellow and wither. Birdsfoot trefoil has low requirements for soil, but grows well in fertile soil with good drainage. Birdsfoot trefoil is a long-day plant and is not shade-tolerant. Sufficient sunlight can promote flowering.