Lotus berthelotii

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Lotus berthelotii
Lotus berthelotti
Lotus berthelotti
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Loteae
Genus: Lotus
Species: L. berthelotii

Binomial name
Lotus berthelotii
Lowe ex Masf.

Lotus berthelotii is a perennial plant native to the Canary Islands, in the genus Lotus. It has a creeping or trailing habit, with leaves divided into 3-5 slender leaflets, each leaflet 1-2 cm long and 1 mm broad, densely covered with fine silvery hairs. The flowers are orange-red to red, peaflower-shaped, but slender, 2-4 cm long and 5-8 mm broad. This plant is either extinct in the wild or persists as a few individuals. In 1884 it was already classed as "exceedingly rare" and plant collection probably hastened its decline. Decline was most likely inevitable, however, because of lack of pollinators. The plant is obviously adapted to be pollinated by birds, but no such birds remain in the Canaries.

Uses

It is grown as a garden ornamental plant, and is valued for its needle-like silvery foliage and red flowers.

External links