Medicago truncatula
Medicago truncatula, commonly known as black medick, is a small, creeping legume widely recognized in botanical research. Beyond its ecological role in nitrogen fixation, this plant serves as a vital model organism in plant biology, helping scientists understand key processes like symbiotic relationships, flowering time, and genetic development.
- Scientific name: Medicago truncatula
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Medicago, specifically the species Medicago truncatula.
| 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 truncatula, is recognized by various local names across different languages and regions. In Arabic, it is referred to as فصة برميلية, while in Swedish, it is called Tornlusern. Its Welsh name is Maglys pigog, and in Persian, it is known as یونجه سربریده. Additionally, in Finnish, the plant is commonly called palikkamailanen.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | فصة برميلية | Wikidata |
| sv | Tornlusern | Wikidata |
| cy | Maglys pigog | Wikidata |
| fa | یونجه سربریده | Wikidata |
| fi | palikkamailanen | Wikidata |
| zh | 蒺藜苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| arz | فصه برميليه | Wikidata |
| sl | trnata meteljka | Wikidata |
| fr | Luzerne tronquée | Wikidata |
| ru | M. truncatula | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in both Austria and Germany. The distribution extends further south to Southwestern Europe, specifically encompassing the Baleares. Finally, its range in the southwestern region also includes the island of Corse.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
Chemicals
Medicago truncatula has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include abscisic acid, anthocyanins, cellulose, isoflavonoids, jasmonic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| abscisic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cellulose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoflavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jasmonic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicarpin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pectin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salicylic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ursolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |