Lotus angustissimus
Slender bird's foot trefoil
(c) Stanislav Murashkin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Lotus angustissimus (Slender bird's foot trefoil) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by differentiated by annual habit and small flowers.
Slender bird's foot trefoil is a naturalized annual found in northern California coastal counties including Sonoma and Mendocino in disturbed grasslands and roadsides at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small yellow flowers 5 to 8 millimeters long in clusters of 1 to 3 blossoms. Growing with prostrate stems that spread and sprawl 10 to 20 centimeters across, it has a delicate, hairy appearance. Its leaves feature 8 to 12 millimeter leaflets that are elliptic to narrowly obovate with obtuse tips, giving the plant a fine, intricate texture. The fruit develops as a linear pod 1.5 to 3 centimeters long, which contains several small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; differentiated by annual habit and small flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed grassland, roadsides
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Lotus angustissimus blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Lupinus: Lotus has yellow flowers and leaflets at the base; Lupinus has palmately arranged leaflets radiating from one point.; vs Trifolium: Lotus has yellow flowers and gland-like stipules; Trifolium has pink/white heads and papery stipules.; vs Astragalus: Lotus has 1-3 flowers in umbels; Astragalus has flowers in elongated spike-like clusters.; vs Pediomelum: Lotus has leaves along stems; Pediomelum has leaves clustered at base.; vs Ladeania: Lotus is widespread in disturbed areas; Ladeania occurs only in Great Basin sandy flats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lotus angustissimus native to California?
No. Lotus angustissimus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lotus angustissimus bloom?
Lotus angustissimus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Lotus angustissimus grow?
Lotus angustissimus occurs in Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Lotus angustissimus belong to?
Lotus angustissimus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lotus.
What habitat does Lotus angustissimus grow in?
Lotus angustissimus grows in Disturbed grassland, roadsides.
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.