Lotus grandiflorus var. grandiflorus

  • Authority

    Isely, Duane. 1981. Leguminosae of the United States. III. Subfamily Papilionoideae: tribes Sophoreae, Podalyrieae, Loteae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (3): 1-264.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Lotus grandiflorus var. grandiflorus

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Range as given in key. Dry slopes, trail sides, ravines, sporadically in serpentine, chaparral to yellow pine. Ca. 1000-5000 ft. March-June (s); April-July (n).

  • Discussion

    Hosackia grandiflora Benth. (1837); L. grandiflorus (Benth.) Greene (1890); Anisolotus grandiflorus (Benth.) Hell. (1912). H. ochroleuca Nutt. (1838). H. grandiflora var anthylloides Gray (1864); L. leucophaeus Greene (1890); Anisolotus leucophaeus (Greene) Hell. (1912); H. anthylloides (Gray) Millsp. (1923); L. grandiflora var mutabilis Ottley (1923); H. leucophaea (Greene) Abrams (1944). H. occulata Greene (1887). L. conifus Greene (1893). Lotus grandiflorus var grandiflorus is conspicuously variable in pubescence. The strongly villous forms, the extremes of Ottley’s var mutabilis are primarily southern, especially of San Diego and Riverside cos, and of the southern Sierra Nevada in Tulare co. These have a subpanduriform standard. Populations of Los Angeles to Santa Barbara cos have the least pubescence, while those of the northern coastal ranges are intermediate, and the standard is not panduntorm. It is possible that these coastal forms, as Ottley maintained, include more than one variety. Lotus confinus Greene represents plants with large flowers, said to be red, from San Diego co.