Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii
Fremont's silver lotus
(c) John Game , some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii (Fremont's silver lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by Sierra Nevada endemic with spherical inflorescences.
Fremont's silver lotus is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in openings along rivers, canyon slopes, and trails at elevations of 600 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small yellow flowers in compact clusters approximately 1.5 centimeters wide, containing 10 to 15 blooms. Growing with prostrate or decumbent-ascending stems, it spreads low across the ground with soft pubescent foliage. Its leaves are loosely arranged, covered in appressed hairs that give the plant a silvery appearance. The flower's delicate calyx lobes measure 3 to 5 millimeters long, with a pale yellow corolla 8 to 12 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; Sierra Nevada endemic with spherical inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings along rivers, trails, on canyon slopes
Elevation: 600-1200 m
California counties: Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Yuba, Mariposa, Sacramento, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Kern, Los Angeles
Bloom period
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii blooms Apr-Jul.
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. fremontii native to California?
Yes. Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii bloom?
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii grow?
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii occurs in Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Yuba and other counties, at elevations of 600-1200 m.
What plant family does Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii belong to?
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
What habitat does Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii grow in?
Acmispon argophyllus var. fremontii grows in Openings along rivers, trails, on canyon slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus — Santa cruz island bird's-foot trefoil
- Acmispon argyraeus — Canyon birdsfoot trefoil
- Acmispon argyraeus var. argyraeus — Canyon lotus
- Acmispon argyraeus var. multicaulis — Scrub lotus
- Acmispon argyraeus var. notitius — Providence mountains lotus
- Acmispon brachycarpus — Short podded lotus
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.