Acmispon maritimus var. maritimus

Coastal lotus

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Coastal lotus is a California native annual found in coastal scrub, foothill woodland, washes, and talus in coastal western, southwestern, and desert southern California at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small yellow flowers with petals 6 to 10 millimeters long, where the keel is approximately equal to other flower petals. Growing with slender stems that spread or ascend, it forms delicate, low-growing clusters. Its leaves are compound with multiple small leaflets typical of the lotus family, creating a fine, feathery appearance. The fruit develops as a slender pod 1.5 to 3 centimeters long, containing multiple seeds.

Habitat: Coastal scrub, foothill woodland, washes, talus

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 1200 m

Bioregions: CW, SW, DSon

California counties: San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Mariposa, Santa Cruz

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.