Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus
Round leaved heermann's lotus
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus (Round leaved heermann's lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and flower characteristics.
Round leaved heermann's lotus is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, north coastal, central coastal, and south coastal regions in coastal scrub and chaparral habitats at elevations below 250 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces small yellow flowers approximately 5 to 6 millimeters long with soft, spreading hairs on the ovary. Growing with low-spreading stems that create a compact ground-covering form, it develops a delicate branching structure. Its leaves are softly textured, likely with multiple small leaflets typical of lotus species. The plant's dense, hairy texture and widespread coastal distribution make it a characteristic ground cover of California's coastal landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; distinguished by coastal habitat and flower characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral
Elevation: < 250 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Ventura, San Francisco, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus 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. tomentosus native to California?
Yes. Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus bloom?
Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus grow?
Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus occurs in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Ventura, San Francisco, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, at elevations of < 250 m.
What plant family does Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus belong to?
Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acmispon.
What habitat does Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus grow in?
Acmispon tomentosus var. tomentosus grows in Coastal scrub, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Acmispon argophyllus var. argophyllus — Southern California silver lotus
- Aeschynomene rudis — Rough jointvetch
- Aeschynomene sp.
- Albizia julibrissin — Silk tree
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.