Hosackia crassifolia
Broad leaved lotus
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Hosackia crassifolia (Broad leaved lotus) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species - geographically isolated.
Broad leaved lotus is a California native perennial found in California's coastal ranges and central western areas in open grasslands and woodland margins at moderate elevations. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces yellow-green flowers with dark blotches that become more prominent with age, arranged in clusters of 12 to 20 blooms. Growing with sprawling or erect stems 70 to 150 centimeters tall that have a distinctive hollow base, it develops a robust and spreading habit. Its leaves are composed of 9 to 15 elliptic or obovate leaflets, each 2 to 3 centimeters long and pale on the underside, with inconspicuous scarious stipules. The plant produces elongated fruits 3.5 to 7 centimeters long that are oblong and glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Ventura, Tulare, Modoc, Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, Nevada, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tuolumne, Mono, Madera, Inyo, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Calaveras, Butte, Tehama, Sonoma, Shasta, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Placer, Orange, Del Norte, Fresno, Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Sierra, Napa, Colusa, Solano, San Luis Obispo
How to tell it apart
vs Acmispon: Hosackia has conspicuous papery or leafy stipules; Acmispon stipules tiny or absent.; vs Lathyrus: Hosackia has umbrella clusters; Lathyrus flowers on stalks with leaves having tendrils.; vs Lotus: Hosackia is native perennial in natural habitats; Lotus is introduced in disturbed sites.; vs Vicia: Hosackia flowers in umbels; Vicia flowers in rows with leaves ending in tendrils.; vs Securigera: Hosackia pods split open straight; Securigera pods break into curved segments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hosackia crassifolia native to California?
Yes. Hosackia crassifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Hosackia crassifolia grow?
Hosackia crassifolia occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Ventura, Tulare, Modoc, Kern, Mariposa, Monterey and other counties.
What plant family does Hosackia crassifolia belong to?
Hosackia crassifolia is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hosackia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.