Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Medicago marina L.
Family : LEGUMINOSAE
Genus : Medicago
Catalan common name : Alfalç marí.
Spanish common name : Mielga marina.
Province distribution : Alicante. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castellón. Gerona. Tarragona. Valencia.
Distribution in the islands : Formentera. Ibiza. Mallorca. Minorca.
General distribution : Mediterranean
Flowering time : April. May. June.
Life-forms : Chameophyte.
Habitat : Beaches and dunes, sandy soils.
IUCN Category : Poco preocupante
Characteristics : This Medicago lives exclusively in sea dunes. It is completely covered by a dense and long hairy coat, which gives it a characteristic and unmistakeable aspect. At times it can be confused with Lotus cytisoides, of which it bears a certain resemblance, but this latter species has straight shaped legumes, given that it is a Lotus; while the Medicago normally form their legumes in a snail shape. Another characteristic is that the down of the Medicago is more evident than Lotus cytisoides.
