Birdsfoot Trefoil
Weeds
bloom-fell, cat's-clover, crow-toes, ground honeysuckle, sheep-foot, hop o' my thumb, devil's-claw
Lotus corniculatus
Birdsfoot trefoil is a common perennial broadleaf plant in under-fertilized, minimal maintenance turfgrass sites. It is well distributed across Michigan and the Great Lakes Region. Trefoil is often found in culture with white clover and black medic. All three species host rhizobacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen into plant available nitrogen making them particularly adapted to boundary and waste areas. Trefoil seems to be better adapted to slightly warmer soils than clover or medic and is often seen along curbs, driveways, and sidewalks. Trefoil becomes conspicuous in late-June when it produces large yellow flowers.