Lotus corniculatus, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 174-175

7. L. corniculatus L. , Sp. Pl. 775 (1753)

(inch L. ambiguus Besser ex Sprengel , L. caucasicus Kuprian. ).

Stems 5-35 cm, procumbent or ascending, glabrous to villous. Leaflets 4-18 x 1-10 mm, lanceolate or oblanceolate to suborbicular. Heads (l-)2- to 7-flowered; pedicels 1-2-5 mm. Calyx-teeth equal, shorter or slightly longer than the tube, triangular to filiform with triangular base; corolla 10-16 mm, usually yellow. Legume 15-30 x 2-2-5 mm. 2n = 24. Almost throughout Europe. All except Sb; introduced in Is. As defined here this species is very variable. It may eventually be possible to recognize a number of subspecies, but the native distribution of this and some related species is very confused, owing to their widespread use as a forage crop.

The main variants which occur in Europe are as follows: (i) sparsely to densely pubescent; calyx-teeth shorter than tube (N. part of the range of the species, locally in the south) ’, (ii) glabrous or sparsely pubescent; leaflets small, fleshy; calyx-teeth about I as long as tube (coasts of W. & N. Europe) ’, (iii) villous or densely pubescent; calyx-teeth slightly longer than tube (C. & S. Europe).

Dwarf plants resembling 8 in many characters also occur in the mountains.