deervetch

1 flower per leaf axil

short-flower deervetch
Acmispon parviflorus

short-flower deervetch
Acmispon parviflorus

• stem ascending to erect, 5–40 cm
• 3–5 leaflets, 4–12 mm, elliptic to obovate, ± equal
• peduncle generally > 1 cm, generally bracted
• 1 flower per leaf axil
• calyx lobes ± ≤ tube
• corolla 4–6 mm, pink or salmon, quickly fading, wings ± = keel
• common

spanish clover
Acmispon americanus

spanish clover
Acmispon americanus

• prostrate to erect, 5–60 cm
• generally 3 leaflets, often with simple upper leaves, 10–20 mm, lanceolate to elliptic
• leaflets lanceolate to obovate, ± equal
• 1 flower per leaf axil
• peduncle generally 15 mm (sometimes shorter), usually bracted (a single leaflet at the top of the peduncle and behind the flower) (example)
• calyx lobes ≫ tube (example)
• corolla 5–9 mm, ± white or yellow to pink, wings ± = keel
• common

These two are similar except for their calyx lobes.

chile trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus

chile trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus

• generally prostrate, branched at base, 5–30 cm
• generally 4 leaflets, palmate or nearly so, 4–15 mm, elliptic to obovate
• 1 flower 1 per leaf axil
• ± no peduncle and no bracts, so flower is sessile above a normal set of leaflets
• calyx strigose [often looks glabrous]
• calyx lobes ± 0.8–1.2 × tube
• corolla 5–9 mm, yellow, reddening in age, wings ± ≤ keel
• very common
• see also bur clover (Medicago polymorpha), which has 3 leaflets instead of generally 4

foothill deervetch
Acmispon brachycarpus

foothill deervetch
Acmispon brachycarpus

• mat-forming to ascending, 5–40 cm
• generally 4 leaflets, palmate or nearly so, 4–12 mm, elliptic to obovate
• 1 flower 1 per leaf axil
• ± no peduncle and no bracts, so flower is sessile above a normal set of leaflets
• calyx hairy
• calyx lobes 1–2 × tube
• corolla 5–9 mm, yellow, reddening in age, wings ± = keel
• scattered

1–2 flowers per leaf axil

strigose lotus
Acmispon strigosus

• prostrate, often mat-forming, generally branched from base, 3–50 cm
• leaf axis flat, ± blade-like
• 3–9 leaflets, lanceolate to obovate, ± equal
• inflorescence generally 1–2-flowered
• corolla 5–10 mm, yellow with ± salmon veins or wash (most visible on the back of the banner), or ± red in age, wings generally > keel
• 1–2 flowers per leaf axil, peduncle 3–25 mm, generally bracted (example)
• scattered

2+ flowers per leaf axil

coastal bird’s-foot trefoil
Acmispon maritimus var. maritimus

• prostrate or ascending, 5–50 cm
• 3–7 leaflets, irregularly pinnate, obovate to ± round, terminal generally largest
• peduncle generally > 1 cm, generally bracted
• generally 2–4 flowers per leaf axil (1st-formed may be only 1–2 flowers)
• corolla 6–10 mm, bright yellow, wings ± = keel; wings cup the keel often without touching each other
• Mt. Madonna

silver bird’s-foot trefoil
Acmispon argophyllus

• prostrate to erect, 10–60 cm
• leaflets with silvery hairs generally obscuring surface
• calyx 4–8 mm, lobes ± ≤ tube, densely shaggy-hairy
• 4–15 flowers per leaf axil
• corolla 6–12 mm, wings ± = keel
• extremely rare at La Honda Creek

chaparral lotus
Acmispon grandiflorus var. grandiflorus

• decumbent to erect, 10–40(150) cm
• 7–9 leaflets, generally 10–15 mm; leaf axis (including petiole) 10–35 mm
• leaf axis not flat or blade-like
• inflorescence 3–9-flowered
• corolla 15–25 mm, cream/yellow to red-purple [Jepson is wrong], wings ± ≥ keel
• Mt. Tam

rush broom
Acmispon junceus

rush broom
Acmispon junceus

• perennial herb; prostrate or low-ascending, not woody, 8–40 cm
• 3–5 leaflets, 5–10 mm, glabrous or finely strigose
• calyx lobes short, wide, not hooked
• corolla yellow, in clusters of 2–8, possible pediceled
• scattered in the Santa Cruz range

bentham’s broom
Acmispon cytisoides

• perennial herb; mat-forming or low-ascending, not woody, 10–80 cm
• 3–5 leaflets, 5–12 mm, glabrous or finely strigose
• calyx lobes narrow, some or all curved outward or hooked
• corolla 8–10 mm, generally white to ± pink (to brick-red when dry, wings cream), often dark-striate, in clusters of 3–10
• Butano, Mt. Montara vicinity

round leaved heermann’s lotus
Acmispon heermannii var. orbicularis

round leaved heermann’s lotus
Acmispon heermannii var. orbicularis

• perennial herb; prostrate, often mat-forming, 30–100 cm
• 4–6 leaflets, 4–16 mm, densely white-hairy
• corolla generally 4–6 mm, yellow to ± red, dark-tipped, wings ≥ other petals [wings < banner in other species?], in clusters of 3–8 with 1–5 mm pedicels
• scattered in the Santa Cruz range

san diego bird’s-foot trefoil
Acmispon micranthus

• rare in the south bay