Wild Wednesday - Common bird's foot trefoil | Latest news

The common bird's foot trefoil scientific name, Lotus corniculatus, is a member of the pea family. Its yellow flowers have five leaflets and are downy, sometimes with a hint of orange/red. They look like little slippers or bird's feet, hence the name.

Known by many strange names, from 'eggs and bacon' and hens and chickens,' to the least appealing 'Granny's toenails!' A low-growing plant, widespread across the UK, found in a variety of places including meadows, roadsides, grassy banks, and coastal areas, especially in dunes.

This plant is super important for pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and has several uses - it is used in wildflower seed mixes for pollinator-friendly gardens, it is traditionally used as forage for livestock and is sometimes used for erosion control due to its dense mat-forming habit.

Read more here:   Common bird's-foot-trefoil | The Wildlife Trusts