Medicago monantha

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Trigonella incisa f. multiflora
• Trigonella noeana var. minor
• Trigonella monantha f. pinnatifida
• Trigonella noeana f. pinnatifida
• Trigonella noeana f. pedunculata
• Trigonella noeana f. reticulata
• Trigonella monantha subsp. incisa
• Trigonella noeana var. tricarpa
• Trigonella monantha subsp. noeana
• Medicago monantha subsp. noeana
• Trigonella monantha subsp. geminiflora
• Telis noeana
• Telis monantha
• Telis brahuica
• Trigonella incisa var. geminiflora
• Trigonella noeana f. brachycarpa
• Trigonella noeana f. tricarpa
• Trigonella monantha var. macroglochin
• Medicago monantha subsp. incisa
• Telis incisa
• Trigonella monantha f. integrata
• Trigonella noeana var. aleppica
• Trigonella monantha var. brachycarpa
• Trigonella geminiflora var. curvata
• Trigonella noeana f. integrata
• Trigonella dicarpa
• Trigonella hamaticarpa
• Trigonella geminiflora
• Trigonella brahuica
• Trigonella macroglochin
• Trigonella noeana
• Trigonella monantha
• Medicago psilocarpa
• Medicago dicarpa
• Trigonella incisa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Medicago monantha, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Fabales. Ultimately, it is a member of the Fabaceae family within the genus Medicago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution that spans several different continents and climate zones. In Middle Europe, it can be found specifically within the borders of Germany. Its presence extends into Eastern Europe, where it inhabits the Baltic States. Within the Central Asian region, the species is documented in both Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. Additionally, the plant reaches as far south as East Tropical Africa, specifically in Kenya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Medicago monantha is characterized by its presence in specific altitudinal gradients and varied land cover types. This species thrives within an elevational range extending from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. Within these lower and middle mountain zones, it occupies diverse habitats, specifically colonizing dry stony slopes, fallows, and plowfields.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry stony slopes, fallows, and plowfields in the lower and middle mountain zones

Life history

The life history of Medicago monantha is characterized by a lifecycle that is classified as annual, meaning it completes its entire biological development from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological life form, the plant functions as a therophyte, a strategy where the vegetative body dies off at the end of the growing season, leaving only seeds to persist through unfavorable conditions to ensure the survival of the next generation. This developmental pattern is consistent across its structural classifications, as it maintains a therophyte status, avoiding the long-term woody or perennial structures found in other growth forms.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Medicago monantha is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, exhibiting a primarily terrestrial habit rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. As an independent species, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant is relatively small in stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. Furthermore, it is a self-supporting plant rather than an obligatory or facultative climber, such as a liana or vine, allowing it to maintain its structure without external support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Medicaego monantha is characterized by a flexible flowering phenology that can span a significant portion of the year. The flowering period is highly variable, with the onset of blooming typically occurring as early as January or February, though it can manifest in any month depending on environmental conditions. The peak flowering window often encompasses the spring months, with a significant period of floral activity observed between March and April. However, due to its variable nature, the flowering cycle can extend through various months of the year, ensuring a broad reproductive window that adapts to seasonal shifts.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Medicago monantha has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, Antioxidant Activity, Flavonoid, Trigonelline, fructose.

4-Hydroxyisoleucine

1. BMC plant biology

Antioxidant Activity

1. BMC plant biology

Flavonoid

1. BMC plant biology

Trigonelline

1. BMC plant biology

fructose

1. BMC plant biology

glucose

1. BMC plant biology

phenol

1. BMC plant biology

sucrose

1. BMC plant biology