Family |
Fabaceae
Lotus hirsutus
L.
Lotus hirsutus L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 775 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 303, Pl. CXV, 5; 1970)
Description
Life-form & habit: Subshrub with fine spreading hairs and erect, cylindrical stems, 30–60 cm tall.
Leaves: Nearly stalkless, with obovate-triangular leaflets.
Inflorescence & flowers: Densely hairy stalks exceed the leaves and carry clusters of about 6–10 flowers, approximately 1 cm long. The calyx is very shaggy, with fine, awl-shaped teeth. The corolla is pale pink.
Fruit: Swollen, oblong to somewhat conical pods, slightly pointed and scarcely exceeding the calyx.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering March–July.
Habitat & elevation: Wooded places and scrub.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Beirut, Nahr el Mott, Antelias, Nahr Beirut, Nahr el Kelb, Araya, Jamhour, Broummana, Bzoummar, Bikfaya, below Beit Mery, Asfouriye, Bhamdoun, Harissa, Chahtoul, Dhour Choueir, Akkar mountains and Bekish.
Syrian distribution: Qadmous, Massiaf, Bhamra, Haffe, Jaoubat Bourghal, Ain Haramiyye, Wadi Qandil, Bassit, Baghtche Caz and Askorane.
Native range: Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Corse, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe.
Introduced into: Germany, Great Britain, Ireland.
⚠️ Taxonomic note:
Mouterde treats this species as Dorycnium hirsutum (L.) Ser., a synonym accepted by Kew under Lotus hirsutus.