Lotus corniculatus - Bird's Foot Trefoil

Family:	Leguminosae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Width:	0.5
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.

Lotus corniculatus (Bird's Foot Trefoil) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m and a width of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Bird's Foot Trefoil will flower in December to March. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

Bird's Foot Trefoil will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Bird's Foot Trefoil prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Bird's Foot Trefoil should not be planted in shady areas.

Pastures and sunny banks of streams, especially on calcareous soils[7, 13, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[200]. Dislikes shade[200]. Does well on poor soils[61]. An important food plant for many caterpillars[30]. It is also a good bee plant[74], the flowers providing an important source of nectar[240]. The flowers are powerfully scented, even though they are able to pollinate themselves[245]. The plant spreads very freely at the roots[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
The young seedpods are 'nibbled'[177]. Caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

• Seedpod - things such as Okra, French and Runner beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Carminative, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, restorative, vermifuge[178]. The flowers are antispasmodic, cardiotonic and sedative[7]. The root is carminative, febrifuge, restorative and tonic[218]. The plant is used externally as a local anti-inflammatory compress in all cases of skin inflammation[7].

• Antiinflammatory - Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Cardiotonic - A tonic for the heart.
• Carminative - Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Hypoglycaemic - Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
• Restorative - Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
• Vermifuge - Expels and kills internal parasites.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in the spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 15°c. If seed is in short supply, it can be sown in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring or early summer.

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous, containing cyanogenic glycosides(hydrogen cyanide)[65, 76]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death. This species is polymorphic for cyanogenic glycosides[218]. The flowers of some forms of the plant contain traces of prussic acid and so the plants can become mildly toxic when flowering[218]. They are completely innocuous when dried[218].

Other Uses

An orange-yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[74]. A useful green manure plant, fixing atmospheric nitrogen[7]. It is difficult to see this plant as a useful green manure, it is fairly slow growing with us and does not produce much bulk[K].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Green manure - Fast-growing plants that can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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