Ontario Wildflowers website

Birdsfoot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) Other common names: Horned Trefoil

French names: Lotier corniculé

Family: Legume Family (Fabaceae)

Similar species:
  •   Yellow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) - Very similar, except the flowers attach at various points along the stem (as opposed to radiating out from a single point). Also the leaves are quite different.


Flowers: Summer;  Yellow;  Irregular flowers

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas, Meadows, Fields

Grows in Sun/Shade: Sun

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 66   

Native/Non-native: Non-native

Photographs: 41 photographs available, of which 6 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) flowers

Birdsfoot Trefoil flowers.

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) flower

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) flowers

Closeup view of Birdsfoot Trefoil flowers.

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) plants

A Birdsfoot Trefoil plant by the side of a driveway.

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) plants

A mass of Birdsfoot Trefoil plants.

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) seed pods

The seed pods illustrate the origin of its common name - the resemble a bird's foot.


Range map for Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)