Bird's Foot Trefoil
non native
This low, perennial herb has spreading stems that root at the
nodes.
The leaves have five leaflets from 1/4 to 1/2 inches long
with a fancied resemblance to bird's feet, thus the common name.
The Latin name 'corniculatus' means little crow and probably
also refers to the leaf shape.
Flowers are bright yellow, often tinged with red, and about
1/2 inch long. They have the banner, wings and keel typical of
the legumes, and cluster in a round head on a rather long, leafless
stalk, similar to the flowers of common clovers. It differs from
clover, however, in having five rather than three leaflets. Bird's
foot trefoil was introduced from Europe, escaped from cultivation,
and is spreading over much of North America. In the Northwest
it is abundant along roadsides and ditches, but frequently invades
meadows.
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