Medicago lupulina
Black medick
Medicago lupulina, commonly known as black medick, is a versatile legume valued for its medicinal and ecological properties. Often found in meadows, this plant is rich in bioactive compounds used in traditional remedies to support health. Its ability to fix nitrogen also makes it vital for soil enrichment.
- Scientific name: Medicago lupulina
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known as Medicago lupulina, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the Fabaceae family and is situated within the genus Medicago.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Medicago | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Medicago lupulina, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Poland, it is called luceerna nerkowata, while in France, it is referred to as luzerne lupuline. In Finland, the plant is known as nurmimailanen, and in Estonia, it is called humallutsern. Additionally, in Germany, it is commonly known as Hopfenklee.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Lucerna nerkowata | Wikidata |
| fr | Luzerne lupuline | Wikidata |
| fi | nurmimailanen | Wikidata |
| et | humallutsern | Wikidata |
| de | Hopfenklee | Wikidata |
| ja | コメツブウマゴヤシ | Wikidata |
| vi | Linh lăng đen | Wikidata |
| lt | apyninė liucerna | Wikidata |
| hsb | Niska šlinčina | Wikidata |
| sv | Humlelusern | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a distinct distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. Additionally, the species is situated within the Faroe Islands, known as Føroyar. Finally, its northern reach extends to include Great Britain and Iceland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
Chemicals
Medicago lupulina has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumestrol, isoflavone.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| coumestrol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |