Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192420

Title: THE SCIENTIFIC NAME OF NARROW-LEAF TREFOIL

Author
item Kirkbride, Joseph

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2006
Publication Date: 9/8/2006
Citation: Kirkbride, J.H. Jr., 2006. The scientific name of Narrow-Leaf Trefoil. Crop Science. 46:2169-2170.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The narrow-leaf trefoil is a widely used forage plant in temperate and sub-temperate areas. It is the object of extensive improvement programs and research, which has generated a large body of literature. A few decades ago it was discovered that its traditional scientific name, Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd., had to be superseded by an older name, Lotus glaber Mill. It was then proposed to permanently reject the name Lotus glaber, thus allowing Lotus tenuis to continue in use for the narrow-leaf trefoil. The rejection proposal for the name Lotus glaber was finally accepted by the 17th IBC in July 2005, so Lotus tenuis is now the scientific name for the narrow-leaf trefoil.