About Acmispon prostratus (Nutt.) Brouillet
Acmispon prostratus, with synonyms Lotus nuttallianus and Syrmatium prostratum, is a legume species. Its common names are beach lotus, Nuttall's lotus, and wire bird's-foot trefoil. It is native to Baja California in northwestern Mexico and extends just into San Diego County, California, where it grows in coastal habitats including beaches and bluffs. It is a rare plant on the highly developed coastline in and around San Diego, with threatened populations known at Mission Bay, the Silver Strand, and Imperial Beach. This species is an annual herb. Its stems are lined with leaves made up of oval leaflets that measure 0.5 to 1 centimeter long. The inflorescence holds 3 to 8 red and yellow flowers, each about 1 centimeter in length. Its fruit is a slender, curved legume pod that usually contains 2 small, bean-shaped seeds.
