Family: Fabaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 779, 1200 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Medicago
Vegetable: False
Observations: Macaronesia, Europe to C. Asia and W. Nepal, N. & NE. Trop. Africa to Arabian Pen.
Description
Bur medic, scientifically known as Medicago polymorpha, is a notable member of the Fabaceae family. Originally described and classified by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753, Bur medic holds historical botanical significance.
Geographically, Bur medic showcases a remarkable adaptability, flourishing in a wide range of regions that include Macaronesia, extending through Europe to Central Asia and Western Nepal. Furthermore, it has adapted to the diverse climates found from Northern and Northeastern Tropical Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, indicating its robust and versatile nature.
Known for its distinctive growth patterns and nutritional value, Bur medic plays a crucial role in its ecosystems. As a member of the legume family, it contributes significantly to soil nitrogen fixation, enhancing soil fertility which benefits surrounding vegetation. This ability underlines its importance in agricultural practices, particularly in crop rotation systems where it can improve soil health and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
In addition to its ecological value, Bur medic also has applications in forage systems, serving as a valuable pasture plant for livestock due to its high protein content. Its hardy nature enables it to thrive in varied climatic conditions, making it a reliable forage option in challenging environments.
In summary, Medicago polymorpha, or Bur medic, is a plant of substantial agricultural and ecological importance. Its extensive distribution across diverse geographies, coupled with its soil-enriching properties and utility as livestock forage, underscores its value in both natural and managed ecosystems.
Common Names
Eng: black medick, bur medic, bur medick, bur trefoil, burclover, california bur-clover, california burclover, hairy medic, rough medic, toothed bur clover, toothed bur-clover, toothed medic, toothed medick, trefoil-clover, bur clover, burr medic, california burr-clover, multi-formed medick, smooth burr-clover, toothed burr-clover
Dan: krog-sneglebælg
Deu: rauer schneckenklee, schwarzer schneckenklee, schwarzer schneckenklee, rauher schneckenklee, rauher schneckenklee
Nld: ruige rupsklaver
Spa: carretón de amores, trébol de carretilla
Fra: luzerne hérissée, luzerne polymorphe
Ita: medica ispida
Ara: nafal
Est: ogaviljane lutsern
Hun: szúrós lucerna
Swe: tagglusern, kroklusern, tagglucern
Ces: tolice mnohotvará
Por: trevo-de-flor-amarela, trevo-rasteiro
Lav: zobain
Cym: llys y meheryn, maglys eddïog, maglys eiddiog, meillionen gragenog
En: Bur medic, Bur trefoil, Hairy medic, Trefoil-clover, Toothed bur-clover, Toothed medic, Toothed medick, Rough medic, California bur-clover, Black Medick, Burclover, California Burclover, Toothed Bur Clover, Bur medick, Bur clover, California burr-clover, Burr medic, Multi-formed medick, Smooth burr-clover, Toothed burr-clover, Californian Bur Clover, Toothed Medik
Ar: Nafal, نفل (نَفَل)، نفله (نَفَلَه، نَفْله)، نفل (نِفِل), Naful
Ca: Melgó de llapassa
Zh: Nan mu xu
Cs: Tolice mnohotvará
Da: Krog-sneglebælg
Nl: Ruige rupsklaver
Et: Ogaviljane lutsern
Fr: Luzerne hérissée, Luzerne polymorphe, Luzerne à fruits nombreux, Luzerne ciliée
De: Rauher Schneckenklee, Rauer Schneckenklee, Schwarzer Schneckenklee, Schwarzer Schneckenklee, Rauher Schneckenklee, Gemeiner Schneckenklee, Stachliger Schneckenklee
He: אספסת מצויה
Hu: Szúrós lucerna
It: Medica ispida, Erba-medica polimorfa, Trifoglino
Ja: Uma-goyashi
Ko: Gaejari
Lv: Zobain
Pt: Trevo-de-flor-amarela, Trevo-rasteiro
Es: Carretón de amores, Trébol de carretilla, Carretones, Quita alfa, Trebol, Carretilla, Alfilla, Esphinkhu
Sv: Tagglusern, Kroklusern, Tagglucern
Cy: Llys y Meheryn, Maglys Eddïog, Maglys Eiddiog, Meillionen Gragenog
Synonyms
- Medicago reticulata (Benth.)
- Medicago obscura (Vis.)
- Medicago hispida f. aculeata (Urb.)
- Medicago polycarpa (Willd. ex Steud.)
- Medicago denticulata var. ciliaris (DC.)
- Medicago hispida var. polygyra ((Urb.) P.Fourn.)
- Medicago hispida var. macracantha ((Webb & Berthel.) Briq.)
- Medicago hispida f. breviaculeata (Urb.)
- Medicago lappacea subsp. denticulata ((Willd.) Nyman)
- Medicago hispida var. inermis ((Urb.) Rouy)
- Medicago polymorpha var. polygyra ((Urb.) Shinners)
- Medicago polymorpha var. ciliaris ((DC.) Shinners)
- Medicago denticulata var. lappacea (W.D.J.Koch)
- Medicago lappacea var. macracantha ((Webb & Berthel.) Lowe)
- Medicago apiculata var. legionensis (Gand.)
- Medicago polycarpa var. tuberculata (Godr.)
- Medicago hispida subsp. lappacea (Menezes)
- Medicago nigra var. apiculata ((Willd.) O.Bolòs & Vigo)
- Medicago polycarpa subsp. polymorpha ((L.) Cadevall & Sallent)
- Medicago nigra var. polygyra ((Urb.) O.Bolòs & Vigo)
- Medicago polymorpha subsp. reticulata ((Benth.) Coste)
- Medicago microcarpa (Urb.)
- Medicago polymorpha var. denticulata ((Willd.) Kerguélen)
- Medicago denticulata var. apiculata ((Willd.) Moris)
- Medicago turbinata subvar. aculeata ((Gaertn.) Nègre)
- Medicago hispida subsp. polygyra ((Urb.) Arcang.)
- Medicago polymorpha var. brevispina ((Benth.) Heyn)
- Medica polymorpha ((L.) Scop.)
- Medicago sardoa (Moris)
- Medicago lappacea var. microcarpa (Urb.)
- Medicago denticulata var. pentacycla ((DC.) Boiss.)
- Medicago berteroana (Moris)
- Medicago microdon (Ehrenb.)
- Medicago denticulata var. brevispina (Benth.)
- Medicago hispida var. reticulata ((Benth.) Urb.)
- Medicago hispida var. microdon ((Batt.) Nègre)
- Medicago hispida f. denticulata ((Willd.) Urb.)
- Medicago denticulata var. reticulata ((Benth.) Batt.)
- Medicago hispida var. brachyantha (Lowe)
- Medicago pentacycla (DC.)
- Medicago hispida f. microdon ((Ehrenb.) Urb.)
- Medicago hispida f. tuberculata (Urb.)
- Medicago terebellum (Willd.)
- Medicago pentacycla var. longiseta (Benth.)
- Medicago polymorpha var. vulgaris ((Benth.) Shinners)
- Medicago bimuricata (Retz. ex Steud.)
- Medicago hispida subsp. microcarpa (Urb.)
- Medicago hamata (C.Presl)
- Medicago hispida var. gracillima ((Tineo ex Tod.) Rouy)
- Medicago neurocarpos (Kunze ex Urb.)
- Medicago polymorpha f. apiculata ((Willd.) Shinners)
- Medicago polycarpa var. apiculata ((Willd.) Godr.)
- Medicago reynieri (Albert)
- Medicago hispida var. pentacycla ((DC.) Urb.)
- Medicago hispida f. maculifolia (Maire)
- Medicago distans (Poir.)
- Medicago nigra var. pentacycla ((DC.) O.Bolòs & Vigo)
- Medicago hispida subsp. polycarpa ((Willd. ex Steud.) Bonnier & Layens)
- Medicago confinis ((W.D.J.Koch) J.M.Black)
- Medicago denticulata var. caspica ((Jacq. ex Spreng.) Grossh.)
- Medicago lappacea var. paucigyrosa (Guss.)
- Medica bimuricata (Moench)
- Medicago lappacea var. longispina (Urb.)
- Medicago hispida subsp. apiculata ((Willd.) Corb.)
- Medicago obscura var. microdon ((Ehrenb.) Vis.)
- Medicago hispida var. confinis ((W.D.J.Koch) Burnat)
- Medicago hispida var. reynieri ((Albert) Rouy)
- Medica reticulata ((Benth.) Bubani)
- Medicago polymorpha var. nigra (L.)
- Medicago hispida (Gaertn.)
- Medicago conica (Schkuhr)
- Medicago denticulata var. tuberculata (Moris)
- Medicago persica (Steven ex Fisch.)
- Medicago hispida var. lappacea (Burnat)
- Medica apiculata ((Willd.) Greene)
- Medicago hispida var. oligogyra (Urb.)
- Medicago hystrix (Ten.)
- Medicago pentacycla var. longeaculeata ((Urb.) Rouy)
- Medicago polymorpha subsp. microcarpa ((Urb.) O.Bolòs, Vigo, Masalles & Ninot)
- Medicago lappacea (Desr.)
- Medicago nigra var. vulgaris ((Benth.) Franco)
- Medicago nigra ((L.) Krock.)
- Medicago denticulata var. oligocarpa (Rouy)
- Medicago hispida var. denticulata ((Willd.) Godr.)
- Medicago polycarpa var. denticulata ((Willd.) Godr.)
- Medicago hispida f. sardoa ((Moris) Asch. & Graebn.)
- Medicago hispida var. macrocarpa (Urb.)
- Medicago hispida var. nigra ((L.) Menezes)
- Medicago nigra subsp. microcarpa ((Urb.) O.Bolòs & Vigo)
- Medicago gracillima (Tineo ex Tod.)
- Medicago flexuosa (Ten.)
- Medicago denticulata (Willd.)
- Medicago hispida f. inermis (Urb.)
- Medicago hispida subvar. brevispina (Nègre)
- Medicago hispida var. aculeata ((Urb.) Rouy)
- Medicago lappacea var. denticulata ((Willd.) Urb.)
- Medicago lappacea var. pentacycla ((DC.) Godr.)
- Medicago hispida var. oligocarpa ((Corb.) Rouy)
- Medicago canescens (Graham)
- Medicago hispida f. apiculata ((Willd.) Urb.)
- Medicago denticulata var. macracantha (Webb & Berthel.)
- Medicago caspia (Gruner ex Boiss.)
- Medicago hispida var. tuberculata ((Urb.) Rouy)
- Medicago denticulata subsp. lappacea ((Desr.) Ball)
- Medicago hispida f. longispina (Urb.)
- Medica denticulata ((Willd.) Greene)
- Medicago hispida subsp. macrocarpa (Urb.)
- Medicago stricta (Wallr. ex Urb.)
- Medicago cyrenaea (Maire & Weiller)
- Medicago polyantha (Dulac)
- Medicago denticulata var. macrocarpa (Moris & De Not.)
- Medicago hispida f. longeaculeata (Urb.)
- Medicago polymorpha f. tuberculata ((Urb.) Shinners)
- Medicago denticulata var. confinis ((W.D.J.Koch) Batt.)
- Medicago hispida f. serratifolia (Blakelock)
- Medicago denticulata subsp. polymorpha ((L.) Pit. & Proust)
- Medicago hispida subsp. denticulata ((Willd.) Piper & Beattie)
- Medicago hispida var. apiculata ((Willd.) Burnat)
- Medicago hispida subvar. pentacycla ((DC.) Pérez Lara)
- Medicago polycarpa subsp. reticulata ((Benth.) H.J.Coste)
- Medicago hispida subsp. polymorpha ((L.) Rouy)
- Medicago nigra var. denticulata ((Willd.) O.Bolòs & Vigo)
- Medicago ciliaris (Savi)
- Medicago lappacea var. brachyacantha (Lowe)
- Medicago heterocarpa (Urb.)
- Medicago apiculata var. confinis (W.D.J.Koch)
- Medica pentacycla ((DC.) Bubani)
- Medicago hispida subsp. pentacycla ((DC.) Arcang.)
- Medicago oligocarpa (Corb.)
- Medicago polymorpha var. confinis ((W.D.J.Koch) Ooststr. & Reichg.)
- Medicago hispida subsp. oligocarpa (Corb.)
- Medicago loretii (Albert)
- Medicago lappacea var. microdon (Batt.)
- Medicago denticulata var. vulgaris (Benth.)
- Medicago polymorpha subsp. polycarpa ((Willd. ex Steud.) Romero Zarco)
- Medicago polymorpha subsp. hispida (Ponert)
- Medicago caspica (Jacq. ex Spreng.)
- Medicago hispida var. trigyra (Urb.)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Gulf States (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Nepal (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Oman (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Sinai (native)
- Socotra (native)
- Spain (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Angola (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Chatham Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile North (introduced)
- Chile South (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Hainan (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Kermadec Is. (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Krym (introduced)
- KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
- Mexico Central (introduced)
- Mexico Northeast (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Mozambique (introduced)
- Namibia (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Norfolk Is. (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Northern Territory (introduced)
- Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Philippines (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- St.Helena (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Tuamotu (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Zimbabwe (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Fruit
Taken Jan 5, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2017 by Hélène Launay (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 8, 2019 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 11, 2021 by françois boca (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 8, 2019 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Apr 1, 2019 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 19, 2018 by Zugna Fulvio (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 2, 2019 by Marialuisa Grosso (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2021 by Angela Lanspeary (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 11, 2021 by françois boca (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 2, 2019 by Marialuisa Grosso (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 18, 2009 by EOL − Valter Jacinto (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2021 by Angela Lanspeary (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 1, 2019 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2017 by Hélène Launay (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Mar 21, 2015 by EOL − Don Loarie (cc-by)
Taken Apr 25, 2021 by randos csms (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Emmanuel STRATMAINS (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 12, 2014 by Tela Botanica − David MERCIER (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 1, 2019 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Sep 25, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 24, 2021 by Antonia Paz Serey Vasquez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Emmanuel STRATMAINS (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 26, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 5, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 8, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 22, 2022 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 21, 2019 by bas yves (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 15, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60465997-2)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2965531)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Medicago polymorpha L.)
Specifications
Growth form: Single Crown
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth
Ph maximum: 8.2
Ph minimum: 5.9
