Variable but usually 10 to 20 cm in height, rather sprawling with a solid, woody stem at the base. Flowers yellow or orangey, sometimes tinged red, especially when just emerging. 10 to 16 mm in clusters of 2 to 7. Seed pod 15 to 30 mm straight.

Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus tenuis)

Solid stems and obtuse angle between the upper two calyx teeth (i.e more than a right-angle) distinguish it from Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil (which is usually larger, hairier, taller and found in marshy places).  Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot trefoil is uncommon in VC55 and very similar in flower but has leaflets that are mostly >4 times as long as wide; Common Bird's-foot trefoil leaflets are mostly <3 times as long as wide. 

Short grassy habitats, road verges, etc.

May to September.

Perennial.

Very common throughout Britain.

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 553 of the 617 tetrads.