Lotus uliginosus habit7 (10356159666)

Description:

Description: Introduced, warm-season, perennial, prostrate legume, with rhizomes and usually less than 15 cm tall. Stems are hollow. Leaves have 5 leaflets, which are ovate to obovate, to 25 mm long and with long marginal hairs. Flowerheads are clusters of 8-14 yellow flowers (10-12 mm long) on the end of unbranched stalks. Pods are long and cylindrical. Flowering is from late summer to autumn. A native of Europe and North Africa, it is sown and naturalized in high rainfall areas and on wet and waterlogged soils. It is tolerant of acid low-fertility soils. Seed is now difficult to obtain. Usually slow to establish, but will tolerate grass competition after 2-3 years. Can grow under low fertility conditions, but is responsive to increased phosphorus. Tends to die off in patches in hot, dry conditions; reshoot when conditions are favourable. Tolerant of wet conditions, but does not survive prolonged flooding. Low bloat risk. High tannin in some varieties can cause periods of lower palatability, but this can reduce overgrazing and help persistence. More tolerant of grazing than Lotus corniculatus, but some leaf should remain after grazing. Provide some rest in autumn to aid seed set and spread, but conditions may not be suitable every year for seed set. Date: 27 April 2009, 14:46. Source: Lotus uliginosus habit7. Author: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia.