Birds-foot trefoil, Lotus ornithopodiodes is a low growing, spreading plant with bright green leaves and clusters of small yellow pea flowers, which are followed by groups of narrow pods radiating from the centre in an arrangement which resembles the foot of a bird, giving the plant both its scientific species and english name.

The leaves of the lotus genus appear to be trifoliate but in fact have five leaflets, two are reduced in size and resemble stipules., so the English name trefoil is inaccurate.