[Deervetch and Trefoils: The Genera Acmispon, Hosackia, and Lotus in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch

Hosackia pinnata

Synonym: Lotus pinnatus

Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Meadow bird's-foot trefoil growing in a small stream in the Klickitat State Wildlife Area of south-central Washington.........June 12, 2009.
Inflorescence of Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)Photo at right illustrates bog deer-vetch from Fisher Hill Rd.......June 30, 1991.
Characteristics:

Bog deer-vetch is a perennial wildflower with many erect to spreading stems from 15-60 cm long. The leaves are pinnately compound with 5-9 elliptic, oblong or obovate leaflets, each 1-2 cm long. The leaves are 4-8 cm long.

The flower heads are 3-to 12-flowered umbels. The flowers range from 10-15 mm long with yellow banner and keel and white wings. The calyx is tubular and 4-8 mm long with triangular-lanceolate teeth from 1/5-1/3 as long as the tube. The upper two calyx lobes are joined most of their length and are merely notched between them. The seed pods range from 3-6 mm in length and 1.5-2 mm wide with 8-20 seeds.

Habitat:

Bog deer-vetch is found growing in the slow moving water of streams that dry up by mid-summer.

Range:

Bog deer-vetch may be found from northwestern Washington south to central California and east along streams and lakes to Idaho.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 200'-2000' from Cape Horn east to the Klickitat River.

Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Several groups of inflorescence of bog deervetch as seen in wetlands on private lands at Panakanic, western Klickitat County, WA..........June 8, 2014.

Flowers and developing fruits of Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Bog deervetch from vernally moist swales at Panacanic in western Klickitat County..........June 17, 2013.

Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Bog deervetch early in its bloom along a creek at Brooks Memorial State Park..........May 19, 2014.

Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor) - Habitat of Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Bog Deervetch, Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Bog deervetch blooming in Little Bowman Creek at the trailhead for Canyon Creek, Klickitat Wildlife Area.........May 22, 2015.

Inflorescence of Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil, Meadow Deervetch: Lotus pinnatus (Synonyms: Hosackia pinnata, Lotus bicolor)

Inflorescence of bog deer-vetch from small creek across Fisher hill Rd (past summit).....June 26, 1991.
Paul Slichter