[Deervetch and Trefoils: The Genera Acmispon, Hosackia and Lotus in Mt. Adams Country]

American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover

Acmispon americanus var. americanus

Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover: Acmispon americanus var. americanus (Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

The photo above shows a close-up frontal-view of the flower of spanish-clover as seen as seen at about 2780' at the edge of the roadbed of Road K6000 at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams.

American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover: Acmispon americanus var. americanus (Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

The photo above shows a close-up side-view of the flower of spanish-clover as seen as seen at about 2780' at the edge of the roadbed of Road K6000 at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams. Note the numerous long, spreading hairs on the calyx tube and its narow lobes as well as those on the leaves.

Pod of American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover: Acmispon americanus var. americanus (Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

The photo above shows a close-up of the long, linear pod of spanish-clover as seen along Road #23 at the Mt. Adams Viewpoint about one-half mile south of Road #8810 at the southwestern corner of Mt. Adams..........August 26, 2005. The pods are typically longer than 15 mm long but less than 3 mm wide.

Stem leaf of American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover: Acmispon americanus var. americanus (Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

The photo above shows the stem leaves of spanish-clover. The leaves usually have only 3 leaflets with individual leaflets measuring 3-10 mm wide.

Pod of American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover: Acmispon americanus var. americanus (Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

Another view of the same seed pod. Often the pods are constricted between the seeds.

American Bird's-foot Trefoil, Pursh's Lotus, Spanish-clover: Acmispon americanus var. americanus (Synonyms: Hosackia americana, Lotus americanus, Lotus purshiana, Lotus purshianus var. glaber, Lotus purshiana var. purshiana, Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus)

The photo above shows american bird's-foot trefoil as seen along Road K1000 east of the Mt. Adams Highway.........July 2, 2007.

Paul Slichter