Lotus (genus) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lotus

Lotus corniculatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Lotus

The Lotus is a group of plants, also known as a genus, that belongs to the Pea family. There are between 125 and 180 different types, or species, of Lotus plants.

What Lotus Plants Are Used For
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What Lotus Plants Are Used For

A field with Lotus corniculatus plants, also known as common bird's-foot trefoil.

Lotus plants are important for many living things. For example, the young forms (called larvae) of some Lepidoptera species, like butterflies and moths, eat Lotus plants as their main food.

Farmers often grow certain Lotus species for animal food. These include L. corniculatus, L. glaber, and L. pedunculatus.

Special Compounds in Lotus Plants

Lotus plants can make special chemicals called cyanogenic glycosides. These can be harmful to farm animals if they eat too much. However, Lotus plants also make tannins. Tannins are helpful because they can stop animals like cows from getting a painful condition called bloating.

How Lotus Plants Help the Soil

Lotus plants are amazing because they can take nitrogen from the air. They do this with the help of tiny bumps on their roots called root nodules. Inside these nodules live special bacteria, like Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium. This process is called nitrogen fixation.

Because they can fix nitrogen, Lotus plants are great as a cover crop. This means they are planted to improve the soil and protect it.

Studying Lotus Plants

Scientists are very interested in Lotus japonicus. They are studying its entire genetic code (called full genome sequencing). This plant is considered a model organism. This means it's used a lot in research to understand how plants grow and work. The discoveries made with Lotus japonicus can help us learn about other plants too.

Lotus as Ornamental and Invasive Plants

Some Lotus species are grown just for their beauty. For example, L. berthelotii from the Canary Islands is a popular ornamental plant.

However, some Lotus species can also cause problems. L. corniculatus is an invasive species in parts of North America and Australia. This means it grows very quickly and can take over areas, pushing out native plants.