Medicago lupulina L.

Black Medick; Yellow Trefoil

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Black Medick is an introduced winter annual in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It occurs statewide in Alabama. Black Medick occurs in fields, along rail road tracks, on roadsides, in lawns, and in vacant lots. It is one of six species in the genus that occur in Alabama. Black Medick has prostrate or weakly ascending stems with alternate trifoliate leaves. At first glance it resembles some species of clover (Trifolium). At the base of each leaf is a pair of stipules. Dense clusters of small yellow flowers are produced from the leaf axils. Each individual flowers is similar to that of a pea. The flowers are replaced with coiled seed pods. The pods become black when mature and do not split to release the seed. Each pod contains a single seed that is kidney shaped. Black Medick was introduced from Eurasia for pasture fodder for livestock, for use as a green manure, and to stabilize that soil and prevent erosion. --A. Diamond

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Not Native FACU (NWPL)

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