Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus
Heermann's lotus
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus (Heermann's lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by habitat, flower size, and growth form.
Heermann's lotus is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal areas, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions in washes, riverbanks, and chaparral at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces small yellow flowers approximately 4 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with slender, spreading stems that are soft and densely covered in fine hairs, it forms low, spreading clumps across its habitat. Its leaves are compound with multiple small leaflets, typically soft-textured and grayish-green, characteristic of its tomentose (woolly) nature. The delicate flowers and fine, hairy foliage make this lotus a subtle but charming component of its dry, open landscape environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; distinguished by habitat, flower size, and growth form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, riverbanks, chaparral
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey
Bloom period
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus blooms Mar-Oct.
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 tomentosus var. glabriusculus native to California?
Yes. Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus bloom?
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus grow?
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus occurs in San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus belong to?
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
What habitat does Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus grow in?
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus grows in Washes, riverbanks, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus — Round leaved heermann's lotus
- Acmispon wrangelianus — Chilean trefoil
- Acmispon americanus var. americanus — American bird's foot trefoil
- Acmispon argophyllus — Silver birds foot trefoil
- Acmispon argophyllus var. adsurgens — San clemente island bird's-foot trefoil
- Acmispon argophyllus var. argenteus — Channel Islands silver lotus
- Aeschynomene rudis — Rough jointvetch
- Aeschynomene sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.