Hosackia stipularis
Stipulate lotus
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Hosackia stipularis (Stipulate lotus) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species - geographically isolated.
Stipulate lotus is a California native perennial found in coastal and northern California regions in open woodlands and grasslands. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink to red-purple flowers in small clusters of 4 to 9 blooms, with petals 10 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with soft-hairy spreading stems 15 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms an open, delicate structure. Its leaves have distinctive large stipules that resemble additional leaflets, with 9 to 15 leaflets each 5 to 20 millimeters long, arranged in an oblong to ovate shape. The fruit is a widely oblong pod 2 to 2.5 centimeters long, lightly covered in soft hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Madera, Napa, Ventura, San Mateo, Humboldt, Placer, Sierra, Amador, Monterey, Mendocino, Shasta, Lake, Plumas, Sonoma, Santa Cruz
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 stipularis native to California?
Yes. Hosackia stipularis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Hosackia stipularis grow?
Hosackia stipularis occurs in Madera, Napa, Ventura, San Mateo, Humboldt, Placer, Sierra, Amador and other counties.
What plant family does Hosackia stipularis belong to?
Hosackia stipularis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hosackia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Hosackia stipularis var. ottleyi — Ottley's stipulate lotus
- Hosackia stipularis var. stipularis — Stipulate lotus
- Hosackia yollabolliensis — Yolla bolly mountains bird's-foot trefoil
- Hosackia crassifolia — Broad leaved lotus
- Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia — Broad leaved lotus
- Hosackia crassifolia var. otayensis — Otay mountain hosackia
- Ladeania lanceolata — Lance-leaved scurf-pea
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.