Endangered Plant species - Lotus corniculatus (Bird's-foot Trefoil)

Endangered Plant of India :-

Lotus corniculatus| Bird's-foot Trefoil 

Introduction | Habitat | Distribution | Description | Medicinal Uses

Introduction :-

Lotus corniculatus is a species of leguminosae family. It is commonly known as Bird's-foot Trefoil. The genus name lotus may come from a Greak word, but it refers to an entirely different plant ! The specific epithet 'corniculatus' comes from Latin word , meaning 'with small horns'.The plant bears pretty little yellow flowers that grow in a circle at the end of the stem. They are very bright and are easily spotted along the roadside.

Lotus Corniculatus

Habitat :- 

Lotus corniculatus (Birds-foot Trefoil) is found in all sorts of well-drained grassland, including wasteland, roadside verges, churchyards, lawns and park. It also grown on some sandy riverbanks.

Distribution:-

In India this plant is commonly found in Kashmir , himachal pradesh ,Uttar Pradesh and rare in Gujrat .

Description:-

• Lotus corniculatus is a highly variable prostate or ascending, hairy or hairless perennial herb. 
• It bears long-stalked clusters of 3-6 yellow flowers.
• Flowers are 8-16 mm long, withy equal petals and unequal sepals.

• Sepals are lanceshaped, hairy or hairless. Leaves are compund with 5 leaflets, which are variable in shape.
• They are mostly broadly obovate-wedge-shaped to lanceshaped, 5-15 mm long. 
• The lower pair is at the base of the leaf spine, separate from the upper 3 leaflets. 
• Pods are 2-3 cm long, cylindrical, hairless.
• Common Bird's-foot Trefoil is found at altitudes of 1500-4000 m. 

Medicinal Uses :-

• Carminative, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, restorative, vermifuge.
• The flowers are antispasmodic, cardiotonic and sedative.
• The root is carminative, febrifuge, restoractive and tonic. 
• The plant is used externally as a local anti-inflammatory compress in all cases of skin inflammation.