black medic

Family

Fabaceae

Scientific Name

Medicago lupulina

Other Common Names:

yellow trefoil

hop clover

hop medic

nonesuch

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Medicago lupulina L. var. cupaniana

Medicago lupulina L. var. glandulosa

Habit

This plant is a summer annual with a spreading, crawling growing habit. The plant produces a small cluster of bright yellow flowers from May through July. The seeds each come from a kidney shaped, hairy, black pod.

Leaves

Leaves are composed of three wedge-shaped leaflets that are almost elliptic. The leaves are sparsely hairy, and are toothed near the near the tip.

Identifying Characteristics

Once in the ground, the seeds can remain for many years before sprouting.

Flower Seed Head

Flowers sprout in a compressed cluster with as many as 50 individual flowers per cluster.

Seed Fruit

The seeds each come from a kidney shaped, hairy, black pod.

Where Found

This plant prefers compressed soils, such as high traffic areas near sidewalks. It is also common in lawns, open fields, roadsides, and all other types of turf

Growth Habit

prostrate and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

pencil

Dominant Flower Color

yellow

Flower Symmetry

radial symmetery

Leaf Hairs

has hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies:

round,

oval,

triangle

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Margin

Varies:

entire,

serrated

Leaf Structure

trifoliate

Leaf Stalk

shorter than leaf

Stem Hairs

has hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

Varies:

taproot,

rhizomes present

Life Cycle

summer annual

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb