Lotus edulis L.

Spice In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Lotus

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic communities, fields and path sides.

Characteristics: A herb with trifoliate leaves and, like all the species of the Lotus genus, with two leaflet-shaped stipules, it therefore seems as though it has five leaflets. The inflorescences have a few flowers, maximum three, generally one or two. The feature which best identifies it is the pod, which is very thick in comparison to its length, with a fleshy appearance and is usually arched. We will find it in the meadows in the moors, clearings in garrigues (Mediterranean woodland) and along path-sides where herbicides are not thrown. It flowers in spring.