Just as I was finishing photographing the nightshade at Acadia National Park a few weeks ago, I realized there was another wildflower nearby – with bright yellow flowers. It turned out to be Bird’s Foot Trefoil – lotus corniculata. I photographed it on the rocky shore across from the Seawall Campground on route 102A near Bass Harbor.

Bird’s Foot Trefoil (c) 2009 Patty Hankins

Native to Europe, Bird’s Foot Trefoil is an invasive species found throughout much of the U.S. When it gets established, it can choke out native plants. Apparently over the years, states have planted Bird’s-foot trefoil along highways to prevent the growth of other weeds and grasses. (info from Wildflowerinformation.org)

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

What I liked about the Bird’s-Foot Trefoil is the shape of the bright yellow flowers – with the red lines defining some of parts of the flower.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

If you’d like to learn more about invasive species – be sure to check out John Peter Thompson’s Invasive Notes blog – his posts are always thought-provoking.