Hosackia pinnata
Pinnate lotus
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hosackia pinnata (Pinnate lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive recurved banner petal.
Pinnate lotus is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern and central Sierra Nevada, and Central Coast at elevations of 600 to 1,700 meters in wet meadows and bogs. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow banner petals with white lower petals in small clusters of 4 to 10 flowers. Growing with a single decumbent or ascending stem 15 to 50 centimeters tall and often with a spongy-thickened base, it has a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves are composed of 5 to 7 nearly opposite leaflets, each 1 to 2.5 centimeters long and elliptic or obovate in shape. The plant produces linear fruits 3 to 5 centimeters long that are remarkably slender, measuring only 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinctive recurved banner petal is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, bogs
Elevation: 600-1700 m
California counties: Modoc, Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Yuba, Siskiyou, Tehama, Mendocino, Humboldt, Fresno, Tuolumne, Trinity, Lake, Placer, Tulare, Plumas, El Dorado, Amador
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Hosackia pinnata blooms May-Jul.
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 pinnata native to California?
Yes. Hosackia pinnata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hosackia pinnata bloom?
Hosackia pinnata blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Hosackia pinnata grow?
Hosackia pinnata occurs in Modoc, Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Yuba, Siskiyou, Tehama, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 600-1700 m.
What plant family does Hosackia pinnata belong to?
Hosackia pinnata is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hosackia.
What habitat does Hosackia pinnata grow in?
Hosackia pinnata grows in Wet meadows, bogs.
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.