Lotus corniculatus var. sibthorpii(Rouy) Asch. & Graebn.
Lotus corniculatus var. slovacus(Chrtková) Starm.
Lotus delortiiTimb.-Lagr.
Lotus delortii var. rivasiiAfr.Fern.
Lotus depressusWilld.
Lotus dvinensisMiniaev & Ulle
Lotus forsteriSweet
Lotus gibbusBeeke
Lotus haeupleriG.H.Loos
Lotus humifususWilld.
Lotus juzepczukiiSeregin
Lotus komaroviiMiniaev
Lotus norvegicus(Chrtková) Miniaev
Lotus olgaeKlokov
Lotus orphanidisUjhelyi
Lotus pentaphyllosGilib.
Lotus pilosissimusSchur
Lotus pilosusJord.
Lotus presliiTen.
Lotus ripariusPers.
Lotus rostellatusHeldr.
Lotus ruprechtiiMiniaev
Lotus sativus(Hyl.) Büscher & G.H.Loos
Lotus stenodon(Boiss. & Heldr.) Heldr.
Lotus suberectusG.H.Loos
Lotus symmetricusJord.
Lotus tauricusJuz.
Lotus tauricusSteud.
Lotus tchihatchewiiBoiss.
Lotus tenuifoliusC.Presl
Lotus uliginosusHoffm.
Lotus zhegulensisKlokov
Mullaghera communisBubani
Lotus corniculatus is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. Common names include common bird's-foot trefoil,[2]eggs and bacon,[3]birdsfoot deervetch,[4] and just bird's-foot trefoil[5] (a name also often applied to other Lotus spp.). It has a wide distribution and is a favored forage for livestock.
Description
It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The height of the plant is variable, from 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches), occasionally more where supported by other plants; the stems can reach up to 50 cm (20 in) long.
The name 'bird's foot' refers to the appearance of the seed pods on their stalk. Five leaflets are present, but with the central three held conspicuously above the others, hence the use of the name 'trefoil'.
The flowers bloom from June to September and develop into small pea-like pods or legumes.
The plant had many common English names in Britain, which are now mostly out of use. These names were often connected with the yellow and orange colour of the flowers, e.g. 'butter and eggs'. One name that is still used is eggs and bacon (or bacon and eggs).[6]
Lotus corniculatus has a broad distribution worldwide.[5][1] It is native to temperate Eurasia and North Africa.[citation needed] It is common everywhere in Britain[7] and Ireland.[8][9]
Habitats include old fields, grassy places,[10] and roadsides.[9] It is typically sprawling at the height of the surrounding grassland. It can survive fairly close grazing, trampling, and mowing. It is most often found in sandy soils.
Birdsfoot trefoil is an invasive species in many parts of North America and Australia. It has been commonly planted along roadsides for erosion control or pastures for forage and then spreads into natural areas.[4][12] Once it has established in an area, it can outcompete native species.[12] The use of prescribed fire is not an effective management tool against L. corniculatus and herbicide is recommended instead to control it.[12]
Potential health concerns
The species contains cyanogenic glycosides,[15] which release small amounts of hydrogen cyanide when macerated. This is not normally poisonous to humans, though, as the dose is very low, and the metabolization of cyanide is relatively quick.[16] Condensed tannins are also present.[17]
Uses
It is used in agriculture as a forage plant, grown for pasture, hay, and silage. It is a high quality forage that does not cause bloat in ruminants.[18] Taller-growing cultivars have been developed for this.[citation needed] It may be used as an alternative to alfalfa in poor soils.
A double-flowered variety is grown as an ornamental plant. It is regularly included as a component of wildflower mixes in Europe. It can also prevent soil erosion and provide a good habitat for wildlife.[18]
In the traditional medicine of the Sannio regio of Italy, the diluted infusions were used for anxiety, insomnia, and exhaustion.[19]
^ ab"Plant Fact Sheet, Birdsfoot Trefoil"(PDF). plants.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
^Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press ISBN978-185918-4783
^ abHackney, P. (Ed) 1992. Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland, Third Edition. Institute of Irish Studies,The Queen's University of Belfast. ISBN0-85389-446-9
^Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles, Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-04656-4
^Scriber, J. Mark (1 January 1978). "Cyanogenic Glycosides in Lotus corniculatus. Their Effect upon Growth, Energy Budget, and Nitrogen Utilization of the Southern Armyworm, Spodoptera eridania". Oecologia. 34 (2): 143–155. doi:10.1007/BF00345163. JSTOR4215630. PMID28309546. S2CID189827997.
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