Asparagus Pea, Bird's-foot trefoil
Lotus edulis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A low spreading herb. It is an annual plant and slightly hairy. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. These are oblong and often broadest above the middle. The flowers are yellow. They have a purple tip to the keel. The flowers are 10-16 mm long. They can occur singly or in pairs on stalks longer than the leaves. The pod is oblong, curved and very inflated. They are 20-40 mm long. They are grooved on the back.

There are about 100 Lotus species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in fields and stony places. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 300 mm. It grows in dry soils. It grows below 1,500 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Balkans, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Syria, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The pods are eaten fresh. The seeds are eaten raw.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Pods, seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Carrafucia, Carrambatula, Curumuscialu, Krinbouch

Synonyms

Lotus tetragonolobus L.;