Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens
San clemente island bird's-foot trefoil, San Clemente Island bird's-foot trefoil, San Clemente Island bird's-foot trefoil
(c) John Game , some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens (San clemente island bird's-foot trefoil) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by island endemic with distinctive overlapping leaves.
San clemente island bird's-foot trefoil is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Channel Islands on San Clemente Island in dry, rocky slopes and bluffs at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact clusters less than 1 centimeter wide, with 4 to 15 blooms densely crowded at stem tips. Growing with silvery, somewhat woody stems that are generally erect and have slender branches, it reaches a modest height with an intricate growth habit. Its leaves are distinctive, overlapping and silvery, creating a soft, dense appearance across the plant's structure. The flower's small calyx lobes measure approximately 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, with delicate yellow petals 6 to 10 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; island endemic with distinctive overlapping leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, bluffs
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Los Angeles
Bloom period
Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Lotus: Same genus - Lotus is an older name for Acmispon, now considered synonymous.; vs Ottleya: Acmispon has yellow pea-shaped flowers in umbels; Ottleya (a buckwheat relative) has tiny white/pink flowers without pea shape.; vs Eriogonum: Acmispon has compound leaves with 3 leaflets; buckwheats (Eriogonum) have simple leaves.; vs Genista: Acmispon leaves are compound with 3 leaflets; Genista (broom) has simple or very small trifoliate leaves on ridged green stems.; vs Hosackia: Acmispon has tiny gland-like stipules; Hosackia has conspicuous papery or leaf-like stipules at leaf bases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens native to California?
Yes. Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens bloom?
Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens grow?
Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens occurs in Los Angeles, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens belong to?
Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
Is Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens rare or endangered?
Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Acmispon argophyllus var. argenteus — Channel Islands silver lotus
- Acmispon argophyllus var. argophyllus — Southern California silver lotus
- Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii — Fremont's silver lotus
- Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus — Santa cruz island bird's-foot trefoil
- Acmispon argyraeus — Canyon birdsfoot trefoil
- Acmispon argyraeus var. argyraeus — Canyon lotus
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.