Bird’s Foot Trefoils are a group of yellow pea flowers

UK Lotus species are quite similar

The name Trefoil relates to the leaf layout of these plants. They appear to have their leaves arranged in threes, but a botanist will tell you that they’re actually fives, with the last two attached to the base of the stalk. These low-growing plants are part of the Pea family and all have a few 1cm long yellow and/or orange flowers held unsymmetrically around the stem. The name comes from the appearance of the brown seed pods, although I think the flower buds are equally bird-like.

common birds foot trefoil leaf lotus corniculatus rye harbour may 2021 — Common Birds Foot Trefoil – *Lotus corniculatus* – Rye Harbour – May 2021

Common Bird’s Foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus

It’s common on chalk grassland near where I live in Sussex, and forms low-growing mats. It has some other imaginative names such as Grannys toenails!

common birds foot trefoil plant lotus corniculatus rye harbour may 2021 — Common Birds Foot Trefoil plant – *Lotus corniculatus* – Rye Harbour – May 2021

common birds foot trefoil buds lotus corniculatus seaford head may 2020 — Flower buds of Common Birds Foot Trefoil – *Lotus corniculatus* – Seaford Head – May 2020

Common-birds-foot-trefoil-Lotus-corniculatus-Crab-Winkle-Jun-2019 — Common Birds Foot Trefoil – *Lotus corniculatus* – Crab and Winkle Way Kent – Jun 2019

common birds foot trefoil lotus corniculatus seaford head jun 2020 — Orange Common Birds Foot Trefoil – *Lotus corniculatus* – Seaford Head – Jun 2020

There is also a sub-species which is Lotus corniculatus var. sativus which is often included in bird seed. This has very upright flower stems which are hollow, and no red or orange tinge.

Greater Bird’s Foot Trefoil – Lotus pedunculatus

I knew what this was when I found it on a walk at RSPB Arne. It was in an area of lush growth in some woods – not somewhere I’d expect to find Common Bird’s Foot Trefoil. It was about 50cm tall and visibly hairy.

Greater birds-foot trefoil flower lotus pedunculatus arne jun 2022 — Flower of Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil – *Lotus pedunculatus* – Arne – Jun 2022

Greater birds-foot trefoil plant lotus pedunculatus arne jun 2022 — Plant of Greater Birds-foot Trefoil – *Lotus pedunculatus* – Arne – Jun 2022

Greater birds-foot trefoil lotus pedunculatus arne jun 2022 — Greater birds-foot trefoil – *Lotus pedunculatus* – Arne Jun 2022

Hairy leaves and stems:

Greater birds-foot trefoil leaves lotus pedunculatus arne jun 2022 — Greater bird’s foot trefoil – *Lotus pedunculatus* – Arne – Jun 2022

Other Birds Foot Trefoils

Narrow leaved Birds Foot Trefoil – Narrow leaves, likes heavy clay – Lotus glaber / tenuis.
Hairy Birds Foot Trefoil – Short and hairy, rare – Lotus subbiflorus / hispidus.
Slender Birds Foot Trefoil – Annual, rare – Lotus angustissimus.