Acmispon strigosus – “Stiff-Haired Lotus”

Also Known As: Hairy Lotus, Strigose Lotus, Strigose Bird’s-Foot Trefoil
Other Botanical Names: Lotus strigosus
Family: Legume, Bean (Fabaceae)
Bloom Period: Feb-Jun
Form: Annual
Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral, foothills, deserts, roadsides, other disturbed areas
Leaves: Pinnately divided, with 4-9 narrow, obovate leaflets; alternate
Translation: “Acmispon” is from the Greek word for “point” or “edge,” and refers to the hook-tipped fruit; “strigosus” means covered with flat-lying hairs, which definitely describes this plant; the original genus, “Lotus,” is a familiar yet strange Greek word that refers to a fruit that makes people who taste it forget their home.