Foothills, montane. Open woodlands, meadows. Summer.
Narraguinnep Natural Area, August 11, 2005.

This attractive Pea has leaves alternately swirled around the stem with a spray of 3-5 very narrow leaflets. The bright red/orange/yellow flowers arise from the leaf nodes. Stems can be upright or reclining. Look for Lotus wrightii in rocky open areas and in openings in Pine and Oak forests.

"Lotus" is an ancient Greek plant name applied to many plants and was, according to Intermountain Flora, "adapted to this genus by botanists of the Renaissance". According to Michael Charter's California Plant Names, "acmispon" is,

"a name published by C.S. Rafinesque, presumably from the Greek "acme", "a point or edge," and explained by him in his publication in Atlantic Journal 1 (4): 144-145, 1832, as "point hooked" in probable reference to the hook-tipped fruit."

The genus occurs in the Mediterranean area and western North America, and was named by Linnaeus in 1753. In 1853 Asa Gray named the species shown on this web page, Hosackia wrightii, and in 1890 Edward Greene renamed it Lotus wrightii. Charles Wright was a trusted plant collector for John Torrey and Asa Gray. (More biographical information about Wright.)

Foothills, montane. Open woodlands, meadows. Summer.
Narraguinnep Natural Area, August 11, 2005.

Foothills, montane. Open woodlands, meadows. Summer.
Narraguinnep Natural Area, August 11, 2005.

Foothills, montane. Open woodlands, meadows. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, August 5, 2008.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Acmispon wrightii