Nonesuch (Medicago lupulina, Sp. Pl.: 779 (1753))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 779 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Medicago

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Europe to Cacucasus, N. & NE. Trop. Africa to Arabian Pen. Indian Subcontinent to China

Description

Nonesuch, scientifically known as Medicago lupulina, is a notable species within the Fabaceae family. First categorized in 1753, this plant has gained recognition under the authority of Linnaeus. Its natural habitat spans across a wide geographical range, encompassing regions from Macaronesia and Europe to the Caucasus, as well as extending from North and Northeast tropical Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, and further reaching the Indian subcontinent and China.

Nonesuch is highly versatile in its adaptability to different environments. Its widespread occurrence in such diverse climates highlights its robust nature and ability to thrive under various conditions. This plant’s ability to cover such a broad territory also suggests its ecological importance and potential uses in agricultural and environmental applications.

The plant excels in creating a lush green cover, commonly seen in fields and meadows across its native and introduced ranges. Belonging to the same family as peas and beans, Medicago lupulina plays a critical role in nitrogen fixation, thereby enriching the soil and promoting healthy plant growth in its vicinity.

In summary, Medicago lupulina or Nonesuch stands out not only for its extensive distribution but also for its ecological significance. As a member of the Fabaceae family, it contributes immensely to soil health and stability, making it an integral species in the regions it inhabits.

Common Names

Eng: black medic, black medic clover, black medick, english trefoil, hop clover, hop medic, hop trefoil, hop-clover, nonesuch, yellow trefoil, black medick clover, hop medick, blackseed hop clover
Deu: gelbklee, hopfen-schneckenklee, hopfenklee
Dan: humle-sneglebælg
Por: alfafa-de-flor-amarela, alfafa-lupulina, lupulina, luzerna-amarela, luzerna-brava, luzerna-lupulina
Cat: fenarola menuda
Nld: hopklaver
Swe: humlelusern, nurmimailanen, humlelucern, humleluzern
Ita: lupolina
Fra: lupuline, luzerne lupuline, minette dorée, minette
Spa: mielga azafranada
Fin: nurmimailanen
Nob: sneglebelg
Nno: snigleskolm
Ces: tolice dětelová
Sme: gieddeluovvaraš
Cym: maglys, maglys du, maglys gwineuddu, maglys masgl-ddu
En: Nonesuch, English trefoil, Hop trefoil, Hop-clover, Black medic, Black medick, Yellow trefoil, BLACK MEDIC CLOVER, Hop clover, Дүжер-меде хмель хевирлиг, Hop medic, Black medick clover, Blackseed hop clover, Hop medick, Minette, Tr≠bol Amarillo
Ar: نفل (نَفَل)، نفله (نَفَلَه، نَفْله)، نفل (نِفِل), فصة سوداء
Be: Люцэрна хмелепадобная
Bg: Хмелна люцерна
Ca: Fenarola menuda
Zh: Tian lan mu xu, 天蓝苜蓿, 天藍苜蓿
Cs: Tolice dětelová
Da: Humle-Sneglebælg, Humlesneglebælg
Nl: Hopklaver, Hop Klaver
Eo: Lupola medikago
Et: Humallutsern
Fi: Nurmimailanen
Fr: Lupuline, Minette dorée, Bujoline, Lupin noir, Luzerne houblonnée, Luzerne Lupuline, “Luzerne lupuline, Minette”, Mignonnette, Trèfle jaune, Trèfle Noir, Triolet, Minette, Luzerne-houblon, Luzerne de Cupani
Gl: Alfalfa lupulina
De: Hopfenklee, Gelbklee, Hopfen-Schneckenklee, Hopfen-Klee, Hopfen-Luzerne, Hopfenluzerne, Gelb-Klee
He: אספסת זעירה
Ga: Dúmheidic
It: Lupolina, Erba medica lupolina, Erba-medica lupulina, Lupolino, Trifogliolino selvatico
Ja: Kometsubū-umagoyashi
Kk: Құлмақ жоңышқа
Lt: Apyninė liucerna
Mn: Зүргийлэг царгас
Se: Gieddeluovvaraš
Nb: Sneglebelg
Nn: Snigleskolm
Fa: یونجه سیاه
Pl: Lucerna chmielowa, Lucerna nerkowata
Pt: Lupulina, Luzerna-brava, Luzerna-lupulina, Alfafa-de-flor-amarela, Alfafa-lupulina, Luzerna-amarela
Sr: Обична вија
Sk: Lucerna ďatelinová
Es: Mielga azafranada, Alfalfa lupulina, Alfalfa, Carretón, Estrebo, Meligón, Mielga negra, Mielga, Teble, Trebolera, Trébol rastrero, Trébol, Lupulina
Sv: Humlelusern, Nurmimailanen, Humlelucern, Humleluzern
Zh-tw: 天藍苜蓿
Tr: Kelebek otu
Uk: Люцерна хмелевидна
Vi: Linh lăng đen
Cy: Maglys du, Maglys, Maglys Gwineuddu, Maglys Masgl-Ddu

Synonyms

• Medicago lupulina f. stipularis ((Wallr.) Urb.)
• Lupulina aurata (Noulet)
• Medicula lupulina subsp. jalasii ((Rothm.) Holub)
• Medicago lupulina var. corymbosa (Ser.)
• Medicago lupulina var. canescens (Moris)
• Medicago lupulina var. unguiculata (Ser.)
• Medicago lupulina var. perennans (Halácsy)
• Medicago apennina (J.Woods)
• Medicago lupulina var. glandulosa (W.D.J.Koch)
• Medicago revoilii (H.J.Coste & Soulié)
• Medicago lupulina var. vassilczennkoi (Ubuk.)
• Medicago lupulina f. subglabra (Pau)
• Medicago lupulina subsp. willdenowii ((Mérat) Arcang.)
• Medicago corymbifera (W.L.E.Schmidt ex Schltdl.)
• Medicago reniformis (Dulac)
• Medicago rigidula var. eriocarpa (Rouy)
• Medicago lupulina var. willdenowii (Asch.)
• Medicago lupulina subvar. eriocarpa (Rouy)
• Medicago lupulina var. scabra (Gray)
• Medicago lupulina var. eriocarpa ((Rouy) Maire)
• Medicago lupulina f. leiocarpa (Urb.)
• Medicago lupulina var. axilis (Merino)
• Medicago willdenowii (Mérat)
• Medicago lupulina f. corymbosa ((Ser.) Urb.)
• Medicago lupulina var. hispida (Klett & Richt.)
• Medicago lupulina var. dzumgalensis (Ubuk.)
• Lupularia parviflora (Opiz)
• Medicago lupulina f. polystachya ((Ser.) Urb.)
• Medicago stipularis (Wallr.)
• Medicago cupianiana (Guss.)
• Medicula lupulina ((L.) Medik.)
• Medicula lupulina subsp. willdenowiana ((W.D.J.Koch) Holub)
• Medicago lupulina var. cinerea (Alleiz.)
• Medica lupulina ((L.) Scop.)
• Medicago lupulina var. polystachya (Ser.)
• Medicago lupulina var. stipularis ((Wallr.) Hallier)
• Medicago lupulina var. cupianiana ((Guss.) Boiss.)
• Medicago lupulina subsp. eurasiatica (Braun-Blanq.)
• Medicago mniocarpa (Wallr. ex Ser.)
• Medicago lupulina var. willdenowiana (W.D.J.Koch)
• Medicago lupulina subsp. cupaniana ((Guss.) Nyman)
• Medicago lupulina f. unguiculata ((Ser.) Urb.)
• Medicago lupulina f. willdenowiana ((W.D.J.Koch) Urb.)
• Medicago lupulina subsp. willdenowiana ((W.D.J.Koch) Soják)
• Medicago lupulina subsp. cupianiana ((Guss.) Nyman)
• Medicago willdenowii var. retorta (Mérat)
• Medicago breviflora (Gilib.)
• Medicago lupulina var. glabra (Gray)
• Trigonella mniocarpa (Wallr. ex DC.)
• Medicago lupulina subsp. jalasii (Rothm.)
• Melilotus medicaginoides (Zumagl.)
• Medicago lupulina var. glanduligera (Neuman)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Somalia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Buryatiya (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Chita (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Føroyar (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Iceland (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mongolia (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Tuva (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 26, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2008 by Henk Van Lottum (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 17, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2021 by manulav (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2019 by Werner Rom (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2008 by Henk Van Lottum (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 17, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2021 by Romy Koe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 21, 2018 by Raymond Overmars (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 8, 2019 by Kenan GÜREL (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 19, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2021 by Romy Koe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 13, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 27, 2003 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 26, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2019 by Bart Vroklage (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 23, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 13, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 3, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Nicolas FAURE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 1852 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Barbara MAI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Dominique BLANC (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 21, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (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.

© 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/2965201)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:506268-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Medicago lupulina L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Crown

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Soil nutriments: 3