Lotus uliginosus
Encyclopedia
Lotus pedunculatus 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 locations. As one common name suggests, it is a larger plant than related Lotus
species, growing 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) tall, with leaflets
10–25 mm (0.393700787401575–0.984251968503937 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.393700787401575–0.78740157480315 in) broad. Five to twelve golden-yellow flower
s 10–18 mm (0.393700787401575–0.708661417322835 in) long are borne in an umbel
at the tip of the upright stem.
Unlike related species, the stem is always hollow, and the sepal
s turn back at their tips – these sepal
tips form a characteristic "green star" at the end of the flower bud. The peak flowering period in the United Kingdom
is June and July.
L. pedunculatus occurs in a wide range of neutral, damp, open habitats, including certain fen-meadow
plant associations such as Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen-meadow
habitat
.
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
).
It is a herbaceous perennial growing throughout Europe in damp, open locations. As one common name suggests, it is a larger plant than related Lotus
Lotus (genus)
Lotus is a genus that includes bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches and contains many dozens of species distributed world-wide. Depending on the taxonomic authority, roughly between 70 and 150 are accepted. Lotus is a genus of legume and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from...
species, growing 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) tall, with leaflets
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
10–25 mm (0.393700787401575–0.984251968503937 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.393700787401575–0.78740157480315 in) broad. Five to twelve golden-yellow flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s 10–18 mm (0.393700787401575–0.708661417322835 in) long are borne in an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
at the tip of the upright stem.
Unlike related species, the stem is always hollow, and the sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s turn back at their tips – these sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
tips form a characteristic "green star" at the end of the flower bud. The peak flowering period in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is June and July.
L. pedunculatus occurs in a wide range of neutral, damp, open habitats, including certain fen-meadow
Fen-meadow
A Fen-meadow is a habitat that occurs in numerous locations throughout northern and western Europe. This habitat is found in generally damp lowland areas....
plant associations such as Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen-meadow
Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen-meadow
The Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen-meadow is a plant association characteristically found on damp ground in portions of western Europe...
habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
.