Birdsfoot trefoil - Lotier corniculé
This non-native plant is both a striking wildflower and an important part of agricultural practice. The flower itself is a compound affair, with multiple units growing off a common short stem. The name ‘birdsfoot’ refers to the seed pods that grow behind the flower later in the season, and which resemble bird’s feet when clustered on the common stem. The ‘trefoil’ part of the name refers to the fact that three flowers are on each side of the short stem.
This flower shows part of what I find striking about them: a brilliant red flower bud morphs into an equally brilliant yellow flower. These are best photographed in early morning light or half-light, as here (you can see the dew still on the flower) thanks to the brilliance of the yellow.
It contributes to the work of farming in a few ways that are distinctive and unique. The plant is a legume - it produces seeds in pods that develop behind the flower. The roots of the trefoil host a bacteria that generates and attracts nitrogen, thus making this a self-fertilizing plant. As well, it reduces bloating in livestock, and reduces gas emissions. It is rich in protein, and so an environmentally effective way to feed farm animals in hay or pasture.
I worked on a farm in my late teens, and the sight of fields of trefoil at a certain point in the flowering stage is something I will never forget. This was an isolated wild plant growing along an overgrown field and its fence line, and it still seemed striking.
I cannot wait for the summer.
Birdsfoot trefoil - Lotier corniculé
This non-native plant is both a striking wildflower and an important part of agricultural practice. The flower itself is a compound affair, with multiple units growing off a common short stem. The name ‘birdsfoot’ refers to the seed pods that grow behind the flower later in the season, and which resemble bird’s feet when clustered on the common stem. The ‘trefoil’ part of the name refers to the fact that three flowers are on each side of the short stem.
This flower shows part of what I find striking about them: a brilliant red flower bud morphs into an equally brilliant yellow flower. These are best photographed in early morning light or half-light, as here (you can see the dew still on the flower) thanks to the brilliance of the yellow.
It contributes to the work of farming in a few ways that are distinctive and unique. The plant is a legume - it produces seeds in pods that develop behind the flower. The roots of the trefoil host a bacteria that generates and attracts nitrogen, thus making this a self-fertilizing plant. As well, it reduces bloating in livestock, and reduces gas emissions. It is rich in protein, and so an environmentally effective way to feed farm animals in hay or pasture.
I worked on a farm in my late teens, and the sight of fields of trefoil at a certain point in the flowering stage is something I will never forget. This was an isolated wild plant growing along an overgrown field and its fence line, and it still seemed striking.
I cannot wait for the summer.