black medick

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black medic
• black medick
• black medick clover
• hop medic
• yellow trefoil
• English trefoil
• hop trefoil
• hop-clover
• nonesuch
• Shamrock
• hop clover

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Medicula lupulina subsp. willdenowiana
• Medicago lupulina var. hispida
• Medicago lupulina var. glabra
• Medicago apennina
• Medicago lupulina f. corymbosa
• Medicago lupulina var. scabra
• Medicago lupulina var. willdenowiana
• Medicago lupulina proles cupianiana
• Medicago willdenowii var. retorta
• Medicago cupianiana
• Medicago lupulina subsp. willdenowiana
• Medicago lupulina var. dzumgalensis
• Medicago lupulina var. cupianiana
• Medicago canescens
• Medicago lupulina var. glanduligera
• Medicula lupulina
• Medicago lupulina subvar. eriocarpa
• Medicago lupulina f. leiocarpa
• Medicago corymbifera
• Medicago lupulina var. eriocarpa
• Medicago lupulina f. polystachya
• Medicago lupulina f. stipularis
• Lupulina aurata
• Medicago lupulina f. unguiculata
• Melilotus medicaginoides
• Medicago lupulina var. vassilczennkoi
• Medicago lupulina f. willdenowiana
• Medicago rigidula var. eriocarpa
• Medicago lupulina subsp. willdenowii
• Medica lupulina
• Medicago lupulina subsp. jalasii
• Medicago stipularis
• Medicago lupulina var. axilis
• Medicago willdenowii
• Medicago lupulina var. corymbosa
• Medicula lupulina subsp. jalasii
• Medicago lupulina var. polystachya
• Medicago lupulina var. unguiculata
• Medicago revoilii
• Medicago lupulina var. stipularis
• Medicago reniformis
• Medicago lupulina var. perennans
• Medicago lupulina var. canescens
• Medicago lupulina var. cinerea
• Medicago lupulina subsp. eurasiatica
• Medicago lupulina subsp. cupianiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Medicago lupulina is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments and a broad altitudinal distribution. It flourishes across a vast elevational range, spanning from sea level at 0 m AMSL to high-altitude regions reaching up to 3600 m AMSL. This plant is frequently found occupying various ecological niches, including forest edges, open meadows, and mountainous terrains. It also demonstrates a preference for specific microhabitats such as shrubberies, stony places, and areas in close proximity to rivers, where it can successfully compete and establish itself within the local flora.

Elevational range max:

3600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, mountains, rivers, shrubberies, stony places

Genetics

The genetics of Medicago lupulina are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that facilitates evolutionary adaptation and morphological diversity within the species. A defining feature of its genomic structure is the variation in chromosome numbers observed across different populations and accessions, which include 16, 28, and 32 chromosomes. This variation suggests a history of polyploidization events, which are common in the genus Medicago and play a crucial role in the plant's ability to tolerate diverse environmental stressors. The presence of these different ploidy levels influences the plant's reproductive strategies, phenotypic plasticity, and overall genetic stability, providing a robust genomic framework for its survival in varied ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

16, 28, 32

Life history

The life history of Medicago lupulina is characterized by its classification as a therophyte, a life form that completes its entire developmental cycle within a single growing season. As an annual plant, it follows a rapid lifecycle that focuses on quick germination, vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production before the onset of unfavorable conditions. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal survival strategy. By operating as a therophyte, the plant relies on its ability to persist through dormant seeds during periods of environmental stress, ensuring its continuity in the landscape despite its short-lived vegetative existence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Medicaego lupulina is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial plant is independent, meaning it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, and it maintains a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a vine or liana. The plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, with an average height of approximately 0.39 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.393333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.07 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Medicago lupulina is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and energy efficiency. The plant is a non-carnivorous species that plays a vital role in soil nutrient cycling through its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer. Its foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, featuring elliptic-shaped leaves with entire margins and a complete absence of leaf thorns or spines. The leaf dimensions range from a minimum length of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 2.7 cm, with a mean width of 1.2 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.25 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm) and a mean leaf size of approximately 5.09333 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 272.39 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass distribution and resource investment strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

2.7 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf size mean:

5.09333 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width mean:

1.2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.25 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

272.39 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Medicaego lupulina is primarily sexual, occurring through bisexual flowers that exhibit a biotic pollination syndrome. These flowers are characterized by their yellow color and range in length from 0.25 cm to 0.3 cm. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in July, though it can be variable. While self-fertilization is noted as absent, the plant relies on insect pollinators, specifically bees, to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, black-colored fruit in the form of a pod. These pods are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.3 cm (ranging from 0.15 cm to 0.3 cm) and a mean width of 0.3 cm (up to a maximum of 0.2 cm). The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The reproductive output is high, with each fruit containing more than 1,000 seeds. The individual seeds are minute, characterized by a mean length of 2 mm, a mean volume of 1.6 mm³, and a mean mass of approximately 0.00166 g (ranging from 0.001 g to 0.00215 g). Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous mechanism, specifically via epizoochory, where seeds or fruits attach to animals to be transported to new locations. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.25 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00215 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00166047725 g

Seed mass min:

0.001 g

Seed volume max:

1.6 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Medicago lupulina has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include COUMESTROL, Isoflavone.

COUMESTROL

1. Journal of food science and technology

Isoflavone

1. Journal of food science and technology