Corniculatus

Corniculatus is a Latin specific epithet used in the scientific names of several plants, meaning “horned” or “horn-like.” The epithet is most familiar from Lotus corniculatus, commonly known as common bird’s-foot trefoil, a perennial legume in the family Fabaceae.

Lotus corniculatus is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa but has been introduced widely and naturalized in many temperate regions. It typically grows in meadows, pastures, and disturbed sites with well-drained soil. The plant is low-growing and creeping, bearing bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators. Its leaves are commonly trifoliate, and it produces seed pods as part of its reproductive cycle.

Ecologically and agriculturally, Lotus corniculatus is valued for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules, which can improve soil fertility. It is used as a forage crop in pasture mixtures, particularly on poorer soils, and can contribute to erosion control on slopes and along roadsides. It tolerates drought and grazing if managed properly, though heavy browsing can reduce flowering and productivity.

The epithet corniculatus is used in the taxonomy of other plant groups as well, reflecting a helmeted or horn-like appearance of some plant parts; however, Lotus corniculatus remains the best-known representative. In botanical nomenclature, species from different genera may share the same epithet, illustrating that the specific epithet alone does not indicate relatedness between species.