Lotus corniculanus L. is a perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family, characterized by almost hairless prostrate or ascending stems 10–60 cm long. The leaves consist of three elongated leaflets with two stipules; they are ovate, green, and sometimes covered with a faint waxy bloom. The inflorescences are corymbous umbels, each containing 3–8 cymose lanceolate inflorescences with a yellow corolla characteristic of a wedge-shaped tooth.
The plant is of medium height and width, has a semi-erect form and a tetraploid genotype. Flowering begins in early spring – in May–September – and lasts about 30 days, ensuring a prolonged period of bee attraction. Each fruit is a pod 1.5 to 3.5 cm long, containing 10–50 seeds. The seeds are rich in glucose, galactose, mannose, and fructose, as well as flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol) and carotenoids.
Lotus corniculanus is valued as a forage plant due to its high protein and amino acid content. It is also an excellent nectar source: during the flowering period, each flower releases 0.08–0.12 mg of sugar in nectar, making it attractive to bees from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, the leaves and fruits contain flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C, which give the plant antioxidant properties. In traditional medicine, a decoction of leaves is used as an astringent, while flowers are used for their calming and toning effect. Due to these properties, Lotus corniculanus can be used both in agriculture and in folk medicine.
