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

This attractive Pea has a spray of three very narrow leaves alternately swirled around the stem and most attractive red/orange/yellow flowers arising 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".  The genus occurs in the Mediterranean area and western North America, and was named by Linnaeus in 1753.  In 1853 Asa Gray named this species 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.)

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.