Medicago polymorpha
bur clover, bur-clover, bur medick, toothed medick, california burclover, smooth bur-clover, burr medic
Family
Fabaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Type
compound, trifoliolate
Growth Form
forb
Flower Color
yellow
Flower Month
March - April
Height (meters)
0.2 - 0.6
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
introduced
Lifespan
annual, perennial
Growing Season
Cool season
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
-1
Field Characters
Leaflets longer than wide, no red spot on the leaf, a legume with double row of straight spines, and 3-5 flowers. Leaflets obovate to obcordate, mostly 6 - 15 mm long, apically denticulate,
Animal Use
A desirable forage by cattle. Livestock may at first have low preference for burclover, but soon acquire a taste for the plant and readily consume it.
Natural History
The annual Medicagos are believed to be self-fertilized (USDA 1948). Medicago polymorpha is a common lawn weed, native to Europe, found throughout Louisiana and the eastern half of Texas.
Habitat
Common lawn weed, in fields, roadsides, and waste places.