BIRD'S FOOT TREFOIL, Lotus, a genus of plants of the natural order leguminosa, sub-order papilionatyls. The pods are cylindrical. somewhat spongy within and imper fectly divided into many cells. The name 13. F. T. is derived from the resemblance of the clusters of pods to a bird's foot. It has received the name lotus from botanists, because a species of this genus is supposed to have been one of the plants so named by the Greeks. See LOTUS. The species, which are pretty numerous, are natives of the temperate and colder regions of the old word. The COMMON B. F. T. (L. corniculatus) is very abundant everywhere in Britain in pastures. It has a stem 6 to 12 in. in length, &minima. and bearing umbellate heads of S to 10 yellow flowers, which have a rich honey-like smell. The leaves have three obovate leaflets, like those of the true trefoils or clovers. but at the base of each leaf-stalk there are also two large leaf-like ovate stipules. The plant is by some regarded as the shamrock (q.v.) of Ireland. It is eaten
with great avidity by cattle, and its deeply penetrating roots adapt it well for very dry situations.—A larger species, otherwise very similar, by ninny regarded as merely a more luxuriant variety of this, with stem nearly erect, more compact heads of smaller flowers, and much smaller seeds, is the GREATER or .NARROW-LEAVED B. F. T. (L major). which also is a common native of Britain. generally found in moist, bushy places. The characteristic differences remain under cultivation in every variety of soil and situa tion. A species called the winged pea (L. tetragonolobus), remarkable for four mem branous wings which run along its pods, a native of the s. of Europe, is frequently culti vated in gardens in Britain amongst other annual flowers; but in some parts of Europe it is cultivated for its seeds, which are used as a substitute for coffee.