Lotus dorycnium
Lotus dorycnium
Synonyms: Dorycnium affine, Aspalathus dorycnium, Lotus rectus, Dorycnium implexum, Miediega suffruticosa, Dorycnium decumbens, Dorycnium suffruticosum f. cuneifolium, Dorycnium dumulosum, Lotus dispermus, Dorycnium dolichocarpum, Trifolium lupinaster, Dorycnium collinum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. suffruticosum, Dorycnium hispanicum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. insulare, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. humile, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. elongatum, Dorycnium tomentosum, Dorycnium suffruticosum, Dorycnium suffruticosum var. latifolium, Dorycnium sphaerocarpum, Dorycnium monspeliense, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. collinum, Dorycnium suffruticosum f. humilis, Dorycnium pentaphyllum subvar. microcarpum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum, Dorycnium suffruticosum f. brevifolium, Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. transmontanum, Dorycnium frutescens, Dorycnium decumbens var. candicans, Dorycnium elongatum, Melilotus dorycnium, Dorycnium humile, Dorycnium herbaceum var. decumbens, Dorycnium insulare, Dorycnium jordanianum var. decumbens, Lotus digitatus, Dorycnium suffruticosum f. humilie, Dorycnium dorycnium, Dorycnium dispermum, Dorycnium cinerascens, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. obovatum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. implexum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. frutescens, Dorycnium subbiflorum, Dorycnium stenocladum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. lagunae, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. dumulosum, Dorycnium suffruticosum var. hispanicum, Dorycnium fruticosum, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. cinerascens, Dorycnium pentaphyllum var. candicans
Botanical Description
Lotus dorycnium (commonly listed under its older name Dorycnium pentaphyllum) is a low evergreen subshrub in the legume family Fabaceae growing 10–70 cm tall, with much-branched woody stems forming small grey-green mounds. Each compound leaf is composed of five sessile narrow obovate to oblanceolate leaflets clothed on both surfaces with fine appressed silky hairs that give the foliage a soft silvery sheen. From May to July the plant produces small, dense terminal umbels of 5–20 white pea-flowers, often with a pinkish keel, on short stalks. The fruits are small ovoid reddish-brown legumes 3–6 mm long containing one or two seeds. It is widely distributed across the Mediterranean basin (France, Italy, Spain, the Balkans and North Africa), where it inhabits dry sunny pastures, semi-arid hills, garrigue, calcareous slopes and roadside banks from sea level to about 1,300 m. The species is valued for revegetation and erosion control on poor, droughty Mediterranean soils but has no significant medicinal or culinary tradition.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.