Burless clover (Medicago orbicularis, Cat. Piante Siena: 60 (1776))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (L.) Bartal.

Bibliography: Cat. Piante Siena: 60 (1776)

Year: 1776

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Medicago

Vegetable: False

Observations: Medit. to W. Himalaya and Ethiopia

Description

Burless clover, scientifically known as Medicago orbicularis, is a noteworthy species belonging to the Fabaceae family. This intriguing plant was first cataloged in “Cat. Piante Siena” on page 60 in the year 1776 by the authoritative botanist Bartal.

Medicago orbicularis thrives across a diverse geographical range stretching from the Mediterranean regions to the western Himalayas, and it is also found in parts of Ethiopia. This expansive distribution highlights the plant’s adaptability to various climates and terrains.

In its native habitats, Burless clover plays a significant role in the ecosystem. As a member of the Fabaceae family, it contributes to nitrogen fixation in soils, thereby enriching and sustaining soil fertility for other plant species. This ecological advantage underscores the plant’s agricultural value, especially in crop rotation and sustainable farming practices.

Burless clover is identifiable by its distinct orbicular leaves and the characteristic growth pattern typical of the Medicago genus. Its presence in diverse regions is not only a testament to its resilience but also to its evolutionary success in thriving amidst varying environmental conditions.

In summary, Medicago orbicularis, or Burless clover, is a versatile and ecologically important plant that has secured its place across a wide botanical landscape from the Mediterranean to the Himalayas and into Ethiopia. Its contribution to soil health and agricultural sustainability makes it a valuable species within the Fabaceae family.

Common Names

Eng: blackdisk medick, burless clover, burless trefoil, button medic, button medick, button trefoil, button-clover, flat snail-clover, large-disc medic, miegla de caracolillo, snail trefoil, black-disk medick, button burr-clover
Dan: rundfrugtet sneglebælg
Deu: scheiben-schneckenklee
Swe: hjullusern
Fra: luzerne orbiculaire
Ita: medico orbicolare
Cat: melgó d´estormia
Spa: mielga de caracolillo
Ara: nafal
En: Burless clover, Burless trefoil, Snail trefoil, Button medic, Button medick, Button trefoil, Button-clover, Large-disc medic, Flat snail-clover, Blackdisk medick, Miegla de caracolillo, Black-disk medick, Button burr-clover, Button Clover, Button burclover
Ar: Nafal, نفل (نَفَل)، نفله (نَفَلَه، نَفْله)، نفل (نِفِل)
Ca: Melgó d´estormia, Melgó d’estormia
Da: Rundfrugtet sneglebælg
Fr: Luzerne orbiculaire
De: Scheiben-Schneckenklee, Scheibenklee, Tellerförmiger Schneckenklee
He: אספסת עדשתית
It: Medico orbicolare, Erba-medica orbicolare, Erba medica orbiculare
Ja: Uzumaki-umagoyashi
Es: Mielga de caracolillo, Carretón
Sv: Hjullusern

Synonyms

• Medicago echinata (Steud.)
• Pocockia marginata ((Willd.) Trautv.)
• Medicago orbicularis f. canescens (Urb.)
• Pocockia applanata ((Willd. ex Hornem.) Trautv.)
• Medicago biancae ((Tod. ex Urb.) P.Silva)
• Medicago viscidula (Bellardi ex Colla)
• Medica inermis (Lam.)
• Medicago orbicularis var. pilosa ((Benth.) Urb.)
• Medicago scutellata (Pall. ex M.Bieb.)
• Medicago marginata (Willd.)
• Medicago orbicularis var. macrocarpa (Rouy)
• Medicago orbicularis subsp. castellana ((J.Caselias) P.Monts.)
• Medicago orbicularis f. pilosa (Benth.)
• Medicago orbicularis var. marginata ((Willd.) Benth.)
• Medicago cuneata (J.Woods)
• Medicago clypeata (Lindl.)
• Medicago applanata (Willd. ex Hornem.)
• Medicago orbicularis f. viridis (Sinskaya)
• Medicago orbicularis var. undulata (Rouy)
• Medicago orbicularis f. rubra (Sinskaya)
• Medicago orbicularis f. tardifolia (Sinskaya)
• Pocockia orbicularis ((L.) Trautv.)
• Medicago orbicularis f. glandulosa (Urb.)
• Medicago orbicularis f. glanduligera (Kožuharov)
• Medicago orbicularis f. macrocarpa ((Rouy) Casellas)
• Medica orbiculata (Bubani)
• Medicago orbicularis f. praecox (Sinskaya)
• Medicago ambigua (Jord. ex Boreau)
• Medicago orbicularis var. castellana (J.Caselias)
• Medicago orbicularis subsp. marginata ((Willd.) Nyman)
• Medica orbicularis ((L.) Medik.)
• Medicago orbicularis f. applanata (Costa)
• Medicago orbicularis var. hebecarpa (Pančić)
• Medicago polymorpha var. orbicularis (L.)
• Medicago orbicularis var. biancae (Tod. ex Urb.)
• Medicago orbicularis var. glandulosa ((Urb.) Rouy)
• Medicago orbicularis var. microcarpa (Rouy)
• Medicago orbicularis var. catholica (Nègre)
• Medicago orbicularis f. biancae ((Tod. ex Urb.) Urb.)
• Medicago orbicularis var. applanata ((Willd. ex Hornem.) Nègre)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Spain (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

Bark

Taken May 10, 2017 by Pedro Salgadinho (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Dominique Remaud (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 15, 2004 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 23, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 24, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken May 6, 2017 by myrmidonios (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2021 by Mladen Glavic (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 8, 2020 by Jiménez Quero Roberto José (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 24, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2019 by Apothic Herb (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 14, 2021 by backstaab (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 15, 2020 by Núriadejuan (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2021 by Spera Daniela Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2020 by Ruiz Francisco (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2021 by Mladen Glavic (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 27, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2020 by Ruiz Francisco (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2021 by Mladen Glavic (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 5, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2965299)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:506322-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bartal.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 6