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.