Lotus arabicus
Lotus arabicus
- Native to:
- Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gulf States, India, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Lotus
- Species:
- Lotus arabicus
- USDA Symbol:
- LOAR8
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Seeds may benefit from brief hot water treatment or mechanical scarification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI