MEDICAGO POLYMORPHA

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

Common Names:- Toothed medick

Homotypic Synonyms:- Medica polymorpha, Medicago denticulata subsp.

polymorpha, Medicago hispida subsp. polymorpha, Medicago polycarpa

subsp. polymorpha.

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

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

Polymorpha (L) Variable, of many forms.

General description:- Low prostrate to spreading, hairy or hairless annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-40 cm.prostrate to ascending,

Leaves:-

1) Leaflets, obovate to triangular, glabrous above, sometimes thinly pilose beneath,

serrate at the apex.

2) Stipules, laciniate.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, filiform, shorter than or equalling the petiole of the subtending leaf.

2) Inflorescence, 2-8-flowered, usually several fruits developing.

3) Corolla, 4-7 mm, pale yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Legume, discoid to shortly cylindrical, usually 5-6 mm in diam. (not including

spines), glabrous, with 2-5 rather lax coils; marginal and submarginal veins well

developed, separated by a groove; surface of the coils with a conspicuous

network of raised veins; spines c. 2 mm, patent, often uncinate.

Key features:-

1) Leaflets, never with a dark spot.

2) Legume, discoid to shortly cylindrical, usually 5-6 mm in diam. with 2-5 rather

lax coils.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy and saline coastal habitats, cultivated and fallow fields, olive

groves, hedges, pastures, wasteground. 0-800(-1300) m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean area and SW Asia.

Widespread on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton