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Lotus corniculatus (view source)

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{{SPlantbox
 
{{SPlantbox
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|familia=Fabaceae
 
|genus=Lotus
 
|genus=Lotus
 
|species=corniculatus
 
|species=corniculatus
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|common_name=Bird's-foot Trefoil, Birdfoot Deervetch, eggs and bacon, butter and eggs
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|habit=herbaceous
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|Min ht box=5
 
|Min ht metric=cm
 
|Min ht metric=cm
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|Max ht box=20
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|Max ht metric=cm
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|Max wd box=50
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|Max wd metric=cm
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|lifespan=perennial
 
|Temp Metric=°F
 
|Temp Metric=°F
 
|image=Upload.png
 
|image=Upload.png
 
|image_width=240
 
|image_width=240
 
}}
 
}}
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'''''Lotus corniculatus''''' is a common [[flowering plant]] native to grassland temperate [[Eurasia]] and North [[Africa]]. The common name is  '''Bird's-foot Trefoil''' (or similar, such as "birdsfoot trefoil"), though the common name is often also applied to other members of the genus. It is also known in cultivation in [[North America]] as '''Birdfoot Deervetch'''. 
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It is a [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]]aceous plant, similar in appearance to some [[clover]]s.  The flowers develop into small pea-like pods or [[legume]]s. The name 'bird's foot' refers to the appearance of the seed pods on their stalk. There are five [[leaf]]lets, but with the central three held conspicuously above the others, hence the use of the name ''trefoil''.
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The height of the plant is variable, from 5-20 cm, occasionally more where supported by other plants; the stems can reach up to 50 cm long. It is typically sprawling at the height of the surrounding grassland. It can survive fairly close grazing, trampling and mowing. It is most often found in sandy [[soil]]s.  It Flowers from June until September.
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The plant has had many common [[English language|English]] names in [[UK|Britain]], which are now mostly out of use. These names were often connected with the yellow and orange colour of the flowers, e.g. 'eggs and bacon', 'butter and eggs'.
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It is used in [[agriculture]] as a [[Fodder|forage]] plant, grown for [[pasture]], [[hay]], and [[silage]]. Taller growing [[cultivar]]s have been developed for this. It may be used as an alternative to [[alfalfa]] in poor soils. It has become an [[invasive species]] in some regions of [[North America]] and [[Australia]].
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A double flowered variety is grown as an [[ornamental plant]]. It is regularly included as a component of [[wildflower]] mixes in [[Europe]]. Fresh birdsfoot trefoil contains cyanogenic glycosides<ref>http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lotus+corniculatus</ref> and is thus poisonous to humans.
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{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Lotus corniculatus, Linn. Bird's-foot Trefoil. Babies' Slippers. Perennial, prostrate or ascending, a few in. to 2 ft. high, glabrous or hairy: lfts. obovate or ovate, ½ in. long, the 2 stipular ones broader and very oblique: fls. yellow, often tinged bright red, 5-10 in an umbel; calyx-lobes about as long as the tube. Temperate regions and Austral.; run wild at certain places in U. S. and Canada. Var. flore-pleno has showy double fls.— A hardy trailer for covering dry banks and rockwork, blooming all summer and autumn. Also grown for forage.
 
Lotus corniculatus, Linn. Bird's-foot Trefoil. Babies' Slippers. Perennial, prostrate or ascending, a few in. to 2 ft. high, glabrous or hairy: lfts. obovate or ovate, ½ in. long, the 2 stipular ones broader and very oblique: fls. yellow, often tinged bright red, 5-10 in an umbel; calyx-lobes about as long as the tube. Temperate regions and Austral.; run wild at certain places in U. S. and Canada. Var. flore-pleno has showy double fls.— A hardy trailer for covering dry banks and rockwork, blooming all summer and autumn. Also grown for forage.
 
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{{Taxobox
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==Cultivation==
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| color = lightgreen
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<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| name = ''Lotus corniculatus''
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| image = Karringtand.jpg
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| image_width = 240px
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Fabales]]
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| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
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| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
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| tribus = [[Loteae]]
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| genus = ''[[Lotus (genus)|Lotus]]''
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| species = '''''L. corniculatus'''''
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| binomial = ''Lotus corniculatus''
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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}}
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'''''Lotus corniculatus''''' is a common [[flowering plant]] native to grassland temperate [[Eurasia]] and North [[Africa]]. The orthography of the common name is variously given as '''Bird's-foot Trefoil''', '''Birdsfoot Trefoil''', '''Birdfoot Trefoil''', or '''Bird's Foot Trefoil'''; it is also known in cultivation in [[North America]] as '''Birdfoot Deervetch'''.
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===Propagation===
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<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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It is a [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]]aceous plant, similar in appearance to some [[clover]]s.  The flowers develop into small pea-like pods or [[legume]]s. The name 'bird's foot' refers to the appearance of the seed pods on their stalk. There are five [[leaf]]lets, but with the central three held conspicuously above the others, hence the use of the name ''trefoil''.
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===Pests and diseases===
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<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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The height of the plant is variable, from 5-20 cm, occasionally more where supported by other plants; the stems can reach up to 50 cm long. It is typically sprawling at the height of the surrounding grassland. It can survive fairly close grazing, trampling and mowing. It is most often found in sandy [[soil]]s.
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==Species==
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<!-- This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc    -->
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The plant has had many common [[English language|English]] names in [[UK|Britain]], which are now mostly out of use. These names were often connected with the yellow and orange colour of the flowers, e.g. 'eggs and bacon', 'butter and eggs'.
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==Gallery==
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
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===Uses===
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<gallery>
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[[Image:BirdsfootTrefoil.jpg|left|thumb|A [[cow]] feeding on birdsfoot trefoil.]]
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Image:BirdsfootTrefoil.jpg|A cow grazing on birdsfoot trefoil.
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It is used in [[agriculture]] as a [[forage]] plant, grown for [[pasture]], [[hay]], and [[silage]]. Taller growing [[cultivar]]s have been developed for this. It may be used as an alternative to [[alfalfa]] in poor soils. It has become an [[invasive species]] in some regions of [[North America]] and [[Australia]].
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
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A double flowered variety is grown as an [[ornamental plant]]. The plant is an important [[nectar]] source for many [[insect]]s and is also used as a [[larva]]l food plant by many species of [[Lepidoptera]] such as [[Six-spot Burnet]]. It is regularly included as a component of [[wildflower]] mixes in [[Europe]].
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==References==
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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== External links ==  
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==External links==
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{{Commons|Lotus corniculatus}}
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*{{wplink}}
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* [http://www.aphotoflora.com/Lotus%20corniculatus-14-05-04.jpg Photo] and [http://www.aphotoflora.com/Lotus%20corniculatus-10-06-04.jpg another] from southwest England, showing flower variation
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[[Category:Faboideae]]
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{{stub}}
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