American bird's-foot trefoil
Acmispon americanus var. americanus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (1 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
American bird's-foot trefoil, scientifically known as Acmispon americanus var. americanus, is a resilient herbaceous perennial native to North America. Renowned for its vibrant yellow blooms, this legume plays a vital role in soil enrichment through nitrogen fixation, offering unique ecological benefits and potential traditional medicinal applications in various ecosystems.
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- American bird's-foot trefoil
- American deer-vetch
- Spanish clover
- prairie bird's-foot trefoil
- prairie deer-vetch
- prairie trefoil
- prairie lotus
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Acmispon americanus var. americanusSynonyms
- Lotus unifoliolatus
- Acmispon floribundus
- Acmispon elatus
- Acmispon sericeus
- Acmispon pilosus
- Hosackia americana var. glabra
- Hosackia americana subsp. pilosa
- Lotus americanus var. glaber
- Lotus purshianus var. glaber
- Lotus purshianus var. minutiflorus
- Hosackia elata
- Hosackia floribunda
- Hosackia pilosa
- Hosackia purshiana
- Hosackia unifoliolata
- Hosackia elata var. glabra
- Acmispon multiflorus
- Acmispon glabratus
- Acmispon gracilis
- Acmispon aestivalis
- Acmispon sparsiflorus
- Trigonella sericea
- Lotus americanus var. minutiflorus
- Lotus purshianus
Regional and Traditional Names
French:
- lotier des prairies
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Acmispon. Specifically, it is identified by the botanical variety Acmispon americanus var. americanus.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Fabales |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Acmispon |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical range stretching across parts of North America. In Western Canada, its distribution includes the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Moving south into the Northwestern United States, the species is also found within the state of Idaho. Additionally, its presence extends into the mountainous terrain of Montana. Together, these locations define the primary habitat for this particular variety.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Western Canada | British Columbia |
| Western Canada | Manitoba |
| Western Canada | Saskatchewan |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Idaho |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Montana |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Oregon |
| Northwestern U.S.A. | Washington |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Minnesota |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Chemicals
Acmispon americanus var. americanus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include N-acetylglucosamine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| N-acetylglucosamine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
N-acetylglucosamine
- Mediators of inflammation