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Toothed Medick Medicago polymorpha

Previously known as:

  • Medicago hispida
Phonetic Spelling
med-DIK-ah-go pol-ee-MOR-fuh
Description

Bur Medick is an annual or short lived perennial, flowering, shallow-rooted legume in the bean family native to the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.  It grows up to 2 feet, forming mats on the ground as it spreads horizontally. It is often found along roadsides, disturbed areas, and stream banks. The plant can spread aggressively and can become invasive as numerous prostrate stems branch from the crown and spread out 6 to 30 inches. The common name, Burclover comes from summer grazing sheep that often accumulate numerous burs in the wool.

Bur Medick does well in full sun or partial shade, moist to dry conditions, and prefers well-drained loamy or fertile soil. It will not do well in droughty, sulfur deficient, granite soils of low fertility.

In its roots it is able to form a symbiotic relationship with a fungus (Sinorhizobium medicae) which allows it fix nitrogen in the soil.  When removing the plant remains at the end of the growing season, remove the surface parts of the plant and leave the roots to decay and release their nitrogen. Bur Medick is commonly used as a cover crop in orchards because of its dense growth and ability to fix nitrogen.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#high maintenance#stream banks#nitrogen fixation#disturbed areas#annual weed#cover crop#roadside#weed#livestock browsing plant#burrs
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#high maintenance#stream banks#nitrogen fixation#disturbed areas#annual weed#cover crop#roadside#weed#livestock browsing plant#burrs
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Medicago
    Species:
    polymorpha
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    All livestock except horses and mules will eat bur clover readily, especially when the plant is maturing.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe east to Central Asia, Northern Africa and Arabia.
    Distribution:
    Europe, Asia, Australia, western United States, Central America, and western South America.
    Wildlife Value:
    Quail and deer make extensive use of the dry burs.
    Edibility:
    Plant is edible and used as a vegetable in China.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Dense
    Horizontal
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Gray/Silver
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Description:
    Prickly, gray black, cylindrical and coiled with burs that attach to fur for dispersal. The flattened, coiled pod, commonly up to 1/4 inch wide. Well developed plants may produce more than 1,000 pods. The seed is large - over 3/32 of an inch in length.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Inflorescence is limited, presenting only a few small, 1/4 inch yellow, pea-like flower that begin blossoming in February or March.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are subglabrous and clover-like in appearance, with wedge-shaped leaflets toothed toward the top.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Light green or red-green stems with white hairs can reach a length of 30 inches. Older plants have less hair. They may also be branched, prostrate, or ascending.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Weedy