| Black Medick Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Black Medick |
| Scientific Name: | Medicago lupulina |
| Colors | Black |
| Shapes | 2-3 mm |
It is native to Europe, near east, north Africa and most of Asia including China, India and Korea. It is naturalized in central Asia, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States and South America. It is found throughout United States including Alaska and Hawaii. It thrives well in dry to moist and well drained soils.
Black-Medick-flower
Black-Medick-flowers-and-buds
Black-Medick-leaves
Black-Medick-plant-illustration
Black-Medick-seeds
Black-Medick-stem
Corolla is yellow, zygomorphic and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in.) long and fused at base. Calyx is five lobed. Inflorescence is an axillary, globose-elongated, long stalked and dense raceme.
Leaves
Leaves are stalked, stipulate and alternate. Leaflets are obovate having notched tips and sharp pointed or tip with toothed margins.
Fruit
Fruits are kidney shaped, glabrous, net veined, coiled and 1.5-3 mm (0.06-0.12 in.) long. It is a one seeded, brownish black and indehiscent pod.
Habitat
Medicago lupulina is found in roadsides, lawns, waste ground, harbours, railway yards and shores.
Culinary uses
- Cook the seeds and leaves and use it as potherb.
- Ground the seeds into powder.
- Sprouted seeds are consumed.
References:
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=503721#null
http://www.hear.org/pier/species/medicago_lupulina.htm
https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Medicago+lupulina
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicago_lupulina
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MELU
https://wimastergardener.org/article/black-medic-medicago-lupulina/
