Lotus (genus) 1051693 218177737 2008-06-09T14:22:57Z Zorrobot 7218328 robot Modifying: [[lt:Garždenis]] :''See [[Lotus]] for other uses, including several other plant taxa bearing this name.'' {{Taxobox | name = ''Lotus'' | image = Lotus formosissima 2.jpg | image_width = 220px | image_caption = [[Seaside Bird's-foot Trefoil]]<br/>''[[Lotus formosissima]]'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | subclassis = [[Rosidae]] | unranked_ordo = [[Eurosids I]] | ordo = [[Fabales]] | familia = [[Fabaceae]] | subfamilia = [[Faboideae]] | tribus = [[Loteae]] | genus = '''''Lotus''''' | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = Between 70-150; see text | synonyms = ''Syrmatium''{{Verify source|date=October 2007}} }} '''''Lotus''''' is a [[genus]] that includes '''bird's-foot trefoils''' and '''deervetches''' and contains many dozens of [[species]] distributed world-wide. Depending on the [[taxonomic]] authority, roughly between 70 and 150 are accepted. ''Lotus'' is a genus of [[legume]] and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from coastal environments to high altitudes. Most species have [[leaf|leaves]] with three leaflets, but also two large [[stipule]]s at the base roughly equal in size to the leaflets, thus appearing to have ''five'' leaflets; some species have pinnate leaves with up to 15 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are in clusters of 3-10 together at the apex of a stem with some basal leafy [[bract]]s, [[pea]]-flower shaped, vivid yellow or orange, occasionally red. ===Uses and ecology=== [[Image:Lotuscorniculatus.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pasture]] with ''[[Lotus corniculatus]]'' (Common Bird's-foot Trefoil, Birdsfoot deervetch)]] ''Lotus'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species. See [[list of Lepidoptera that feed on Lotus]]. Several species are culvivated for [[Fodder|forage]], including ''[[Lotus corniculatus|L. corniculatus]]'', ''[[Lotus glaber|L. glaber]]'' and ''[[Lotus uliginosus|L. uliginosus]]''. They can produce toxic [[cyanide|cyanogenic glycoside]]s which can be potentially toxic to [[livestock]], but also produce [[tannin]]s, which are a beneficial anti-[[bloat]]ing compound. This genus can fix [[nitrogen]] from the air courtesy of their [[root nodule]]s, making it useful as a [[cover crop]]. The nodulating [[symbiont]]s are ''[[Bradyrhizobium]]'' bacteria. Scientific research for crop improvement and understanding the general biology of the genus is focused on ''[[Lotus japonicus]]'' which is currently the subject of a full [[genome sequencing]] project, and is considered a [[model organism]]. Some species, such as ''[[Lotus berthelotii|L. berthelotii]]'' from the [[Canary Islands]], are grown as ornamental plants. ''[[Lotus corniculatus|L. corniculatus]]'' is an [[invasive species]] in some regions of [[North America]] and [[Australia]]. ==Selected species== [[Image:Lotus aduncus.JPG|thumb|right|''[[Lotus aduncus]]'']] [[Image:Lotus alpinus01.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Lotus alpinus]]'']] [[Image:Lotus maculatus.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Lotus maculatus]]'']] *''[[Lotus aboriginus]]'' &ndash; [[Rosy Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus aduncus]]'' *''[[Lotus alamosanus]]'' &ndash; [[Sonora Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus alpinus]]'' *''[[Lotus angustissimus]]'' &ndash; [[Slender Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus argophyllus]]'' &ndash; [[Silver Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus argyraeus]]'' &ndash; [[Canyon Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus benthamii]]'' &ndash; [[Bentham's Deervetch]] *''[[Lotus berthelotii]]'' &ndash; Canary Islands Trefoil *''[[Lotus cedrosensis]]'' *''[[Lotus corniculatus]]'' &ndash; Common Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bird's-foot Deervetch *''[[Lotus crassifolius]]'' &ndash; Big Deervetch, Broad-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil *''[[Lotus creticus]]'' *''[[Lotus dendroideus]]'' &ndash; [[Island Deervetch]] *''[[Lotus denticulatus]]'' &ndash; [[Riverbar Bird's-foot Trefoil]], [[Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus formosissimus]]'' &ndash; [[Seaside Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus glaber]]'' &ndash; Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil, Slender Trefoil, Creeping Trefoil, Prostrate Trefoil; formerly ''L. tenuis'' *''[[Lotus grandiflorus]]'' &ndash; [[Chaparral Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus greenei]]'' &ndash; [[Greene's Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus hamatus]]'' &ndash; [[San Diego Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus haydonii]]'' &ndash; [[Rock Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus heermannii]]'' &ndash; [[Heermann's Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus humistratus]]'' &ndash; [[Foothill Deervetch]] *''[[Lotus incanus]]'' &ndash; [[Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus intricatus]]'' &ndash; [[Arid Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus jacobaeus]]'' *''[[Lotus japonicus]]'' *''[[Lotus junceus]]'' &ndash; [[Rush Deervetch]] *''[[Lotus maculatus]]'' *''[[Lotus maritimus]]'' *''[[Lotus mearnsii]]'' &ndash; [[Mearns' Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus micranthus]]'' &ndash; [[Desert Deervetch]] *''[[Lotus mollis]]'' *''[[Lotus nevadensis]]'' &ndash; [[Nevada Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus nuttallianus]]'' &ndash; [[Wire Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus oblongifolius]]'' &ndash; [[Streambank Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus ononopsis]]'' *''[[Lotus ornithopoides]]'' *''[[Lotus palustris]]'' *''[[Lotus parviflorus]]'' &ndash; [[Smallflower Bird's-foot Trefoil]], [[Smallflower Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus pinnatus]]'' &ndash; [[Meadow Bird's-foot Trefoil]], [[Bog Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus plebeius]]'' &ndash; [[New Mexico Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus procumbens]]'' &ndash; [[Silky Deerweed]] *''[[Lotus rigidus]]'' &ndash; Desert Rock Pea, Shrubby Deervetch *''[[Lotus rubriflorus]]'' &ndash; [[Redflower Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus salsuginosus]]'' &ndash; [[Coastal Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus scoparius]]'' &ndash; Common Deerweed, Common Deervetch, California Broom, Western Bird's-foot Trefoil *''[[Lotus sessilifolius]]'' *''[[Lotus stipularis]]'' &ndash; [[Balsam Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus strigosus]]'' &ndash; [[Strigose Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus subbiflorus]]'' &ndash; [[Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil]]; formerly ''L. hispidus''{{Verify source|date=October 2007}}, ''L. suaveolens'' *''[[Lotus tetragonolobus]]'' &ndash; [[Winged Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus unifoliolatus]]'' &ndash; [[American Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus uliginosus]]'' &ndash; Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Large Bird's-foot Trefoil, Big Trefoil; formerly ''L. pedunculatus'' *''[[Lotus utahensis]]'' &ndash; [[Utah Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus wrangelianus]]'' &ndash; [[Chilean Bird's-foot Trefoil]] *''[[Lotus wrightii]]'' &ndash; [[Wright's Deervetch]] *''[[Lotus yollabolliensis]]'' &ndash; [[Yolla Bolly Bird's-foot Trefoil]] == External links == {{commonscat|Lotus (Faboideae)}} * [http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Lotus.html Lotus species names] [[Category:Faboideae]] [[da:Kællingetand-slægten]] [[de:Hornklee]] [[es:Lotus (género)]] [[fr:Lotier]] [[he:לוטוס]] [[ka:კურდღლისფრჩხილა]] [[lt:Garždenis]] [[nl:Rolklaver]] [[no:Tiriltunger]] [[pl:Komonica]] [[pt:Lotus (género)]] [[sv:Käringtänder]]