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Spotted Medick, Spotted Burclover
Medicago arabica
med-DIK-ah-go a-RAB-ih-kuh
Fabaceae
Native to:
Old World,
the Mediterranean region.
Florida abundance and distribution: Invasive and found in Northern Florida,
Southeastern
States and Northwestern States
and throughout the world.
Recognition: A spreading
annual with pubescent stems 50-60cm tall, three leafs obcordate to obovate and
alternate; margins serrate starting at mid-rib, apex emarginated with a dark
patch in the center. The 2-5 yellow flowers are small, in axillary racemes, turn
into spiny, spirally burs. The stipules are large, 5-12mm, pubescent, incised
and scary.
Potentially
confused species: There are many other
plants (weeds) in the genus Medicago
that are found throughout the United States but specifically to Florida are
Black Medick (M. lupulina), Little
Bur-Clover (M. minima) and of course
Alfalfa (M. sativa).
The present species has a characteristic dot on each leaflet.
Other:
Is a great forage food, also known as a forb/herb.
Medicago arabica is capable of
nitrogen fixing by having a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium
Sinorhizobium medicae. Many other
weeds in the Medicago genus are
capable of nitrogen fixing as well. Alfalfa, a product that is used through the
world is Medicago sativa.
Contributed by Andrea Schechter
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