Medicago lupulina L.

Spice Flower Fruit

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Medicago

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Garriques, cultivated fields and road sides.

Characteristics: The genus Medicago is characterised because the pod forms a spiral. The fruit of Medicago lupulina on the contrary does not form this spiral but is only curved, form the shape of kidney. These fruits are small, a couple of millimetres, like the flowers which are yellow and small. The flowers are grouped in a compact inflorescence at the top of a long leaf-stalk. The leaves, like so many Leguminosae, are trifoliate and dark green. It lives in grasslands and dry meadows. It flowers in spring.