Hosackia yollabolliensis
Yolla bolly mountains bird's-foot trefoil, Yolla Bolly Mountains Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Hosackia yollabolliensis (Yolla bolly mountains bird's-foot trefoil) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by restricted range, small size, and fringed banner diagnostic.
Yolla bolly mountains bird's-foot trefoil is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges in the Yolla Bolly Mountains, Trinity, and Humboldt counties, inhabiting open, dry slopes and fir forests at elevations of 1,700 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to pale yellow flowers with fringed banner margins in small clusters of one to three blossoms. Growing with decumbent stems clustered and low to the ground, reaching 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms compact ground-hugging clusters. Its leaves are pinnate with three to five oblanceolate to obovate leaflets, each 3 to 10 millimeters long, arranged delicately along slender stems. The fruit develops as a narrow, glabrous pod 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long, containing a small number of seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; restricted range, small size, and fringed banner diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, dry slopes, fir forest
Elevation: 1700-2100 m
Bloom period
Hosackia yollabolliensis blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 yollabolliensis native to California?
Yes. Hosackia yollabolliensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hosackia yollabolliensis bloom?
Hosackia yollabolliensis blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Hosackia yollabolliensis belong to?
Hosackia yollabolliensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hosackia.
Is Hosackia yollabolliensis rare or endangered?
Hosackia yollabolliensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Hosackia yollabolliensis grow in?
Hosackia yollabolliensis grows in Open, dry slopes, fir forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Hosackia crassifolia — Broad leaved lotus
- Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia — Broad leaved lotus
- Hosackia crassifolia var. otayensis — Otay mountain hosackia
- Hosackia gracilis — Harlequin lotus
- Hosackia incana — Woolly lotus
- Hosackia oblongifolia — Narrow leaved lotus
- Ladeania lanceolata — Lance-leaved scurf-pea
- Ladeania sp.
- Lathyrus angulatus — Angled pea vine
- Lathyrus aphaca — Yellow pea
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.