TRAILING LOTUS

Lotus berthelotii is a perennial plant endemic to the Canary Islands, in the family Fabaceae. This plant is either extinct in the wild or persists as a few individuals. In 1884 it was already classed as "exceedingly rare" and plant collection probably hastened its decline. The plant has a creeping or trailing habit, with leaves divided into 3-5 slender leaflets, each leaflet 1–2 cm long and 1 mm broad, densely covered with fine silvery hairs.

The flowers are orange-red to red, peaflower-shaped, but slender, 2–4 cm long and 5–8 mm broad. Lotus berthelotii is cultivated in the horticulture trade and widely available as an ornamental plant with its needle-like silvery foliage and red flowers for traditional gardens, container (pots), and drought tolerant water conserving gardens. A golden orange flowering cultivar is also grown.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.