Lotus japonicus

Flower name
Lotus japonicus
Scientific name
Lotus japonicus
Alias烏帽子草, 都草, Lotus corniculatus
Place of originEurope
Place of floweringFields and footpaths
Flowering seasonMay, June

What is Lotus japonicus

Lotus japonicus (Scientific Name: Lotus japonicus) is a perennial wildflower native to Europe and a native species (prehistoric naturalized plant) of the genus Lotus.
It is a wildflower found on roadsides, fields, and beaches throughout Japan. From spring to early summer, it produces one to three butterfly-shaped yellow pea-like flowers on each stem, which grow from the leaf axils. The calyx is tubular and lobed at the tip, and the sepals are as long or longer than the calyx tube. Chromosome number is 2n = 12.

Similarities between L. japonicus and L. corniculatus
After World War II, L. japonicus (scientific name: Lotus corniculatus), which belongs to the same family, was imported from Europe for use in slope planting, forage, and soil erosion control, and it has been propagated and naturalized.
Both Lotus corniculatus and Lotus corniculatus are perennial herbs in the genus Lotus (Fabaceae) and have yellow butterfly-shaped flowers.

Differences between L. japonicus and L. corniculatus
The differences between the two are as follows. They are different species because they have different chromosome numbers and are difficult to interbreed.
L. japonicus has one to three flowers per stem. The gaku lobes are slightly longer than the gaku tube. Chromosome number is diploid.
L. corniculatus (L. japonicus) produces 3 to 7 flowers on each flower stalk. When viewed from above, the flowers look like a ring. The gaku lobes are slightly shorter than the gaku tube. The chromosome number is tetraploid.

Common Name: Lotus japonicus, Scientific Name: Lotus japonicus,aka: miyakogusa, Origin: Europe, Height: 10-30 cm, Plant: creeping, branched at base, Leaf color: green, Leaf shape: trichoblastic, Leaflets: ovate, Leaf margin: entire, Inflorescence: Alternate; Inflorescence: sporophyllous; Corolla: butterfly-shaped; Color: yellow; Sepals: tubular with 5 deep lobes at the tip; Flowering season: April to August; Fruit type: pea-pod.