Medicago arabica
spotted medic, spotted medick, southern burr clover, spotted burrclover, spotted burr-clover
Family
Fabaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Type
compound, trifoliolate
Growth Form
forb
Flower Color
yellow
Flower Month
March - May
Height (meters)
0.1 - 0.6
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Armed
Origin
introduced
Lifespan
annual
Growing Season
Cool season
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
-1
Field Characters
Leaflets are wide or wider than long and usually have a reddish spot in the middle, spiny stipules with spiny lobes, 1-5 flowers, and a legume that is spirally coiled (4-7 coils) with a double row of curved spines.
Cultural Information
Scarification of seed is beneficial for germination (Cross 1931). Seed viability did not drop much over 4 years of cold storage (Lewis 1958).
Natural History
The annual Medicagos are believed to be self-fertilized (USDA 1948). A native of the Old World that is now a widespread weed found throughout most of Louisiana and the eastern half of Texas. .
Habitat
Fields, roadsides, and waste places.