Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia
Narrow leaved lotus
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia (Narrow leaved lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: moist habitat, more leaflets, larger flowers than var. cuprea.
Narrow leaved lotus is a California native perennial found in the California Floristic Province, North Coast Ranges, and Mojave Desert in open, moist forest, river bottoms, and marshy meadows at elevations of 200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow flowers 9 to 13 millimeters long. Growing with spreading stems up to 30 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms delicate clumps in moist environments. Its compound leaves have 7 to 11 leaflets that can be hairy or smooth, with each leaflet elongated and lance-shaped. In marshy habitats, the plant creates dense clusters of bright yellow blossoms that attract local pollinators.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species. Key features: moist habitat, more leaflets, larger flowers than var. cuprea
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Open, moist forest, river bottoms, marshy meadows
Elevation: 200-2400 m
California counties: Fresno, Kern, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tulare, San Bernardino, Plumas, Sonoma, Amador, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Shasta, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Glenn, Lake, Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Mariposa, Inyo, Madera, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, El Dorado, Riverside, Ventura, Tuolumne, Mono, Sierra
Outside California: southern Oregon, western and southern Nevada, Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia blooms May-Sep.
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 oblongifolia var. oblongifolia native to California?
Yes. Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia bloom?
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia grow?
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia occurs in Fresno, Kern, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tulare, San Bernardino, Plumas, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of 200-2400 m.
What plant family does Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia belong to?
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hosackia.
What habitat does Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia grow in?
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia grows in Locally common. Open, moist forest, river bottoms, marshy meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.