Lotus alpinus
| Lotus alpinus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lotus alpinus at the Giardino Botanico Alpino Chanousia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Loteae |
| Genus: | Lotus |
| Species: | L. alpinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lotus alpinus (Ser.) Schleich. ex Ramond | |
| Synonyms | |
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Lotus alpinus, common name alpine bird's-foot trefoil, is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae.
Description
L. alpinus can reach a height of 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in). It is a perennial herbaceous plant, typically sprawling horizontally at the height of the surrounding grassland or rocky surfaces. The base of its stem is woody. Flowers are pea flower-shaped and may be yellow, orange, or reddish. They bloom from May to August
Distribution
L. alpinus is a species of the mountain regions of the southern Europe (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, former Yugoslavia, Italy, France, and Spain), particularly the Alps and the Pyrenees.
Habitat
Alpine bird's-foot trefoil can be found in subalpine or alpine pastures and rocky areas, at elevation of 1,700–2,700 m (5,600–8,900 ft) above sea level.