Lotus (genus) - Definition and Overview

Lotus
Lotus uliginosus- Flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Loteae Genus: Lotus
Species
approximately 150 recognised species, including: Lotus berthelotii Lotus corniculatus Lotus glaber Lotus heermanii var. orbicularis Lotus japonicus Lotus scoparius Lotus uliginosus

See lotus for other uses, including several other plant taxa bearing this name.

The genus Lotus contains approximately 150 species distributed world-wide. Lotus is a legume and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats from marine environments to high altitudes.

Lotus corniculatus pasture

Several species are culvivated for forage, including L. corniculatus, L. glaber, and L.uliginosis. Scentific research for crop improvement and understanding the general biology of the genus is focused on L. japonicus which is currently the subject of a full genome sequencing project, and is considered a model organism.

Some species, such as the Lotus berthelotii from the Canary Islands, are grown as ornamental plants.

Lotus species can produce toxic cyanogenic glycosides which can be potentially toxic to livestock. They also produce tannins which are a beneficial anti-bloating compound.

Bird's Foot Lotus (Lotus corniculatus) is an invasive species in some regions of North America and Australia.