Birdsfoot Trefoil


Lotus corniculatus L.
Birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial legume that does not cause bloat in grazing ruminant animals. It is highly adapted to grow in a range of challenging conditions including infertile soils, soils with high acidity or poor drainage, and poorly prepared seed beds.
It has a wide crown and taproot, intermediate in depth between alfalfa and red clover. Roots sometimes develop from older stems that have soil contact. It requires its own specific Rhizobium loti inoculant to fix nitrogen.
The plant produces many fine stems or branches from the crown, which can grow up to 75 cm (30 in.) long. Plants can be erect or prostrate. Birdsfoot trefoil has compound leaves with paired leaflets up the stalk and a single leaflet at the tip.
Flowers initially form on lower branches and continue up the stem. Flowers are a brilliant yellow and found in clusters of 2 to 8. After cross-pollination, each flower produces a cylinder-shaped pod 4 cm (11/2 in.) long with 10 to 20 seeds in each pod. The name is derived from the way the pods form at right angles to the stem, looking like a bird’s foot.