Black medic

Encyclopedia Article

Black medic                  Medicago lupulina L.

Family:   Fabiaceae (Bean family)

Life cycle:  Annual

Habitat:  Poorly managed turf; waste areas.

Native status: Introduced

General description:  Prostrate growth habit forming mats 2 to 3 ft in diameter.  Leaves with three elliptic leaflets, margins of leaf end with very small teeth.   Leaflets up to ¾ in long.  Small, yellow flowers occur in ball-shaped cluster; at maturity the pods form cluster of black fruit.

Key ID traits:  Trifoliate leaves with small teeth on margins; clusters of small yellow flowers turning to black pods.

Similar species:  Yellow woodsorrel has a similar growth habit, but leaflets are heart-shaped and yellowish green.

Miscellaneous:   Introduced from Eurasia for use as forage and nitrogen fixation.


Trifoliate leaves, leaflets have a dentated margin.  Large stipules are present at the base of the leaf petiole. Yellow flowers are arranged in a tight, round cluster.

black seed pods
The clusters of yellow flowers mature into clusters of black seed pods.

 


Prostrate growth habit of black medic.

 

Category: 
Weeds
Tags: 
weed identification
Authors: 

Bob Hartzler

Meaghan Anderson Field Agronomist in Central Iowa

Meaghan Anderson is a field agronomist in central Iowa and an extension specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Educational programming is available for farmers, agribusinesses, pesticide applicators, certified crop advisors, and other individuals interested in crop ...