Austral Trefoil

Images ©:
©Lotus australis Richard Hartland CC-BY, Lotus australis - Deniliquin Goldfields Revegetation no copyright, Lotus australis Nick Williams CC2.5

Lotus australis

Upright herb to 60 cm tall. Leaves divided into five round leaflets. Pink or white pea-like flowers. Thin round straight peapods to 50 mm long, with many brown smooth seeds.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Lotus australis var. australis
Other Common Names
Native Indigo
Distinctive Features

Erect habit is distinctive -most other Lotus species run along the ground.
Biology

Perennial. Moist well-drained soils in grasslands and dry forests. Can withstand dry periods.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Mar
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Lotus
Species
australis

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

From the Greek lotos, a name for several fodder species. Palatable to stock.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Very variable species. Red BirdÕs-foot Trefoil L. cruentus is also variable and can look the same in some forms. Also known
Native Status
Native