• East view from Crissy Field overlook with old Coast Guard station on left and city on right

    Presidio of San Francisco

    California

Deerweed

(Lotus scoparius)
 
Deerweed
Deerweed on the dunes at Crissy Field.
Will Elder, NPS
 

Origin Of Genus Name: From the Greek "lotos," a term for clover-like plants.

Presidio Locations: Found throughout the dunes on sandy flats and brushy hills, particularly at Crissy Fiels and Lobos Creek dunes.

Range In State: California coast. The Presidio is the type locality for this species.

Description: This perennial native species of the Pea Family has small yellow flowers and is often shrubby. The stems are robust and the plant forms prostrate mats. The leaflets are well-spaced and are found in groups of three. Blooms June to August.

Native Californian Uses: The Ohlone used the fiberous foliage as building material for house thatching and as a decoction for coughs.

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Did You Know?

Grave marker in the Presidio pet cemetery

Though the majority of animals buried in the Presidio pet cemetery are dogs and cats, there are also parakeets, canaries, pigeons, macaws, rabbits, hamsters, rats, lizards, goldfish, and mice.