Birds Foot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus - Western Isles Blue Wildflowers

Birds Foot Trefoil
Yellow - Wildflowers - Seen On The Western Isles. Birds foot trefoil is a member of the pea family.

Its clover like lovely tiny yellow flowers are seen all over The Western Isles.

It can grow to about 40cm tall in some cases, but often is much lower to the ground.

Flowers to mid September
The flowers can be seen from the end of April through until mid September

Flowerheads

The flowerheads are made up of 4 to 6 yellow flowers on long stalks and sometimes streaked with red.

The flowers are an even, warm yellow colour when they are fully opened and form a cluster of pea flowers at the end of a short stem.

Seedpods
It is known as Bird’s-foot-trefoil as having flowered it produces seedpods arranged in a ‘bird’s foot’ pattern and its five leaflets appear trifoliate

It is a perennial herbaceous plant, similar in appearance to some clovers.

Leaves
The leaves of the birdsfoot trefoil are smooth and consist of 5 leaflets. Yellow pea-like flowers bloom from June to October. You can see these little wildflowers all over the Western Isles.

Pollination
The flowers can actually pollinate themselves if necessary, however they are usually cross pollinated by insects such as bees and butterflies visiting the flowers to collect the nectar.

Common Blue Butterflies
As there are a lot of 'common blue' butterflies, throughout the Western Isles in the summer. these lovely wildflowers create sometimes whole 'carpets' on the moorland.

Bacon and Eggs
Many people know this flower as ‘bacon and eggs’ - alluding to the vibrant red and yellow/orange colour of the flowers when they begin to open

Other Common names
This lovely yellow wildflower is also sometimes known as 'Baby's Slippers' and 'Bird's Foot Clover'

Other names like ‘Dutchman’s clogs’ and ‘lady’s slippers’ hint at the general shape of the flowers, which resemble old fashioned slippers or shoes

Silage
It is used in agriculture as a forage plant, grown for pasture, hay, and silage.

Language of Flowers
The plant is one of the few flowers in the language of flowers that has a negative connotation, symbolizing revenge or retribution.

Birds Foot Trefoil - Yellow wiildflowers - Hebrides

Birds Foot Trefoil
Isle of Lewis Wildflowers

Birds Foot Trefoil flowers - Western Isles Flora

Birds Foot Trefoil
Yellow Wildflowers - Western Isles

Birds Foot Trefoil - Hebridean Yellow Wildflowers - Western Isles Flora

Close up of the Birds Foot Trefoil
Wildflowers - Isle of Harris

Click pictures below for larger photographs

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