OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Fabales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Medicago lupulina   FAMILY Fabaceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Medicago lupulina   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)

Medicago lupulina

SYNONYMOUS WITH Native & naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the US (Isely, 1998)

Medicago lupulina

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 098-16-003:

Medicago lupulina   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Medicago lupulina

 

COMMON NAME:
Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913    pnd_melu_001_lvd

        

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide    pnd_melu_007_lvd

        

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

USDA / Selected Weeds of the US. 1970    swus_page_231

        

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

Terry Holdsclaw    tdh_m_lupulina_9164

March    Catawba County    NC

Dark green taprooted annual with a spreading, prostrate growth habit, per Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses (Murphy et al., 1992).

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

Terry Holdsclaw    tdh_m_lupulina_0228

May    Iredell County    NC

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

Terry Holdsclaw    tdh_m_lupulina_0231

May    Iredell County    NC

Flowers in small heads, in a sprawling plant that resembles the Hop Clovers, per Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Newcomb, 1977).

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

Terry Holdsclaw    tdh_m_lupulina_0231b

May    Iredell County    NC

Flowers fall off soon after blooming, revealing curved legumes, per Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains (Smith, 1998).

image of Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Yellow Trefoil

Terry Holdsclaw    tdh_m_lupulina_0231c

May    Iredell County    NC

Leaflets obovate to elliptic, toothed near (& with a small spur at) the tip, per Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses (Murphy et al., 1992).


click here to see other plants that look similar to this COMPARE leaves that are trifoliolate and pinnately compound

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Medicago lupulina   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Medicago lupulina   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Medicago lupulina

SYNONYMOUS WITH Native & naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the US (Isely, 1998)
Medicago lupulina

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 098-16-003:
Medicago lupulina   FAMILY Fabaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Medicago lupulina

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

922

Forb
Annual

Habitat: Fields, roadsides, disturbed areas, vacant lots, per Weakley's Flora

Non-native: Europe

Common

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.


Invasive?

This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:

 

LEAVES:
Odd-pinnately compound: 3 leaflets
Mostly alternate

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Yellow
Bilaterally symmetrical
5-toothed campanulate calyx
5-parted papilionaceous corolla
10 stamens, diadelphous, 9 and 1
Superior ovary

Inflorescence an axillary raceme

FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Blackish
Legume

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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