bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) observed in Wauwatosa
iNaturalist: adeleaquino
Urban Ecology
Bird's-foot trefoil creeping into Wauwatosa lawns and roadsides can outcompete native clovers and vetches that specialist bees depend on — knowing where it's spreading helps you decide whether to pull it or let pollinators use it as a stopgap.
Someone in Wauwatosa spotted and documented bird's-foot trefoil, a small yellow wildflower in the pea family that originally came from Europe. It's common along roadsides and in lawns, where it can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil. The observation was verified by the iNaturalist community, making it an official, reliable record of where this plant is growing.
Key Findings
Research-grade verification confirmed bird's-foot trefoil is present in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Lotus corniculatus is a non-native, nitrogen-fixing legume that naturalizes readily in disturbed urban and suburban habitats
Citizen-science documentation adds a georeferenced data point to regional spread tracking for this introduced species
chevron_right Technical Summary
A research-grade observation of bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) was recorded in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, confirming the presence of this nitrogen-fixing legume in the area.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of bird's-foot trefoil in Wauwatosa.
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Species Mentioned
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Lotus corniculatus is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. Common names include common bird's-foot trefoil, eggs and bacon, birdsfoot deervetch, and just bird's-foot trefoil. It has a wide distribution and is a favored forage for livestock.