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Story: Pastures

Lotus

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Lotus

Lotus (Lotus uliginosus) is commonly found as a weed in gardens or in moist low-fertility soils of pastures that are not regularly grazed. It has long rhizomes (roots that grow horizontally in the soil) so can spread rapidly, climbing through and over other plants. It has an extensive root system, so if well managed it can provide useful stock feed in dry seasons. This is a typically dense, sown stand of Maku lotus in flower.

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by Deric Charlton

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How to cite this page

Deric Charlton, Pastures – Other legumes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16370/lotus (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Deric Charlton, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Donna Donaldson
18 January 2023
The description is absolutely perfect regarding this weed. My horse loves cocksfoot grass when were out particularly the seed heads, but totally zones in for the lotus weed which makes sense growing together. Is it perfectly safe for him to eat, pulling him away from the weed at the moment, generally horses wont eat what's not good for them. He is well conditioned and on good pasture, Thank you Regards Donna