Lotus maritimus
Lotus maritimus is a species of plant in the legume family, native to Europe, Africa and temperate Asia. It is one of several species known as dragon's teeth.
Description
Dragon's-teeth is a multi-stemmed, prostrate, herbaceous perennial. When in flower, the stem extends up into a proud peduncle with a single terminal flower. The leaves are trifoliate and pointed; with a short petiolule joining each leaf to the petiole. Petioles have two small stipules at the base and are much shorter than the peduncle. The vegetative parts of the plant are covered in fine hairs. The fruit pod has 4 winged ridges, hence its former scientific name Tetragonolobus maritimus. It is light green and looks fairly cylindrical and narrow, between 25 and 50 mm long.The inflorescence, approximately 25-30 mm, is solitary on a pubescent peduncle, longer than the adjacent leaf. The flowers are typical of the pea family with one prominent, heart-shaped standard and the two lateral wings and a keel being folded together. The standard is a paler yellow, with contrasting veins, and the wings a vibrant lemon yellow. The calyx is prominent, approximately half the length of the inflorescence, with a variable crimson tinge. At the base of the calyx tube appears one leaf like bract. The ovary is superior developing into a 4-winged fruit, which is woody, brown and papery when ripe. The fruit is dehiscent and contains many 2 mm seeds.
Taxonomy
Linnaeus called it 'maritimus', which means "by the sea" because he thought that was where it grew, although modern maps show that it occurs in inland locations, too.The name "dragon's-teeth" is a reference to the legend of Cadmus, the mythical founder of Thebes, who conjured an army by sowing the teeth of a dragon he had killed. A sward of Lotus maritimus in fruit could be compared to an army brandishing their swords, hence the name. The striking shape of the fruit is also the origin name of the old scientific name, Tetragonolobus, which is a Neo-Latin word meaning "lobed obong".