Lotus uliginosus
Marsh lotus
(c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Lotus uliginosus (Marsh lotus) is a non-native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by differentiated by wet habitat and large flower clusters.
Marsh lotus is a naturalized perennial herb found in northern California coastal regions, San Francisco Bay Area, and expected in other locations, growing in wet fields and roadsides at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in compact clusters of 8 to 12 blooms. Growing with ascending, generally hollow stems that are often fleshy and glabrous or long-shaggy-hairy, it reaches moderate heights with a rhizomatous growth habit. Its distinctive leaves feature 5 leaflets, each broadly obovate and 8 to 25 millimeters long with obtuse tips. The fruit develops as a narrowly oblong pod 2 to 3 centimeters long, containing a few seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; differentiated by wet habitat and large flower clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 800 m
Outside California: to Washington, sporadic in eastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Lotus uliginosus blooms Jun-Sep.
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 uliginosus native to California?
No. Lotus uliginosus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lotus uliginosus bloom?
Lotus uliginosus blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Lotus uliginosus belong to?
Lotus uliginosus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lotus.
What habitat does Lotus uliginosus grow in?
Lotus uliginosus grows in Wet fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.