Hosackia gracilis, synonym Lotus formosissimus, is a species of legume native to western North America from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to California.
It was first described by George Bentham.
It is known by the common name harlequin lotus.
It grows in moist spots in the coastal mountains and down to the oceanside bluffs.
It is a perennial herb growing upright or spreading to about 0.5 m in maximum length.
It is lined with leaves each made up of a few oppositely arranged oval leaflets up to 2 cm long.
The inflorescence is made up of several pealike flowers each 1 to 2 cm long.
The flower has a bright yellow banner, or upper petal, and bright pink or white lower petals.
The fruit is a legume pod 2 to 3 cm long.
Hosackia gracilis, synonym Lotus formosissimus, is a species of legume native to western North America from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to California. It was first described by George Bentham. It is known by the common name harlequin lotus. It grows in moist spots in the coastal mountains and down to the oceanside bluffs. It is a perennial herb growing upright or spreading to about 0.5 m in maximum length. It is lined with leaves each made up of a few oppositely arranged oval leaflets up to 2 cm long. The inflorescence is made up of several pealike flowers each 1 to 2 cm long. The flower has a bright yellow banner, or upper petal, and bright pink or white lower petals. The fruit is a legume pod 2 to 3 cm long.
Hosackia gracilis