Bird's-foot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus

Above: Bird's-foot Trefoil in Duck Pond parking lot in Madison, Wisconsin. (6/05/20).

Bird's-foot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus (invasive)

An invasive, pretty weed, Bird's-foot Trefoil is a low-creeping, perennial plant with clusters of deep, yellow flowers tinged with red.

In Wisconsin, Bird's-foot Trefoil is a terrestrial invasive species. It is located in roadsides, waste areas, fields, prairies, wildlife openings, and open disturbed areas. It tolerates a variety of soil types including dry, moist, hardpan or droughty soils.

Other names include: Common Bird's-foot trefoil, eggs and bacon, and birdsfoot deervetch

The name "bird's foot" refers to the clusters of linear seed pods that resemble the shape of birds' feet. Five leaflets are present, but with the central three held conspicuously above the others, hence the use of the name "trefoil".

Above: Bird's-foot Trefoil on Manitou Way in Nakoma in Madison, Wisconsin on June 29, 2019.

For more information on Bird's-foot Trefoil, visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

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