a shrub, Lotus scoparius, that is native to California and produces small yellow flowers in the summer
deerweed in American English
(ˈdɪərˌwid)
noun
any of several shrubby Californian plants belonging to the genus Lotus, of the legume family, esp. L. scoparious, having pinnate leaves and clusters of yellow flowers
Also: deer weed
Word origin
[1910–15, Amer.; deer + weed1]This word is first recorded in the period 1910–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: coverage, flashback, homeroom, isotope, zing