MEDICAGO DISCIFORMIS

Family and Genus:- See- LEGUMINOSAE/Subgen. CYMATIUM

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Medica disciformis.

Meaning:- Medicago (Gr) Median-grass, A name used by the Greek physician

and botanist Dioscorides, from a Persian name for lucerne, or medick.

Disciformis (L) Having radiate flowers.

General description:- Sparsely pubescent annual.

Stem:-

1) 10-30 cm. usually branched from base, several ascending.

Leaves:-

1) Leaflets, broadly obovate, ± pilose on both surfaces, dentate at least in front.

2) Stipules, lanceolate, dentate near the base.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, slender, longer than pedicels.

2) Inflorescence, 1-3-flowered, but usually only a single fruit developing.

3) Corolla, 5-6 mm, yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, discoid, tightly coiled, 6-8 mm in diam. (not including spines), glabrous,

coils with a broad veinless margin and slender, spreading marginal spines 2-3

mm; ultimate coils without spines.

Key features:-

1) Legume, discoid, tightly coiled, 6-8 mm in diam., ultimate coils without spines.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, roadsides, olive groves, field margins, open

coniferous woodland. 0-800(-1500) m.

Distribution:- Widespread an fairly common across the Mediterranean.

Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Dr. Armin Jagel.