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Spotted Medick Medicago arabica 

 
 
Annual Life CycleAnnual life cycle
Winged FlowersWinged flowers
Yellow FlowersYellow flowers
5 Petals5 petals
May-Aug Flowering
period
Trifoliate LeavesTrifoliate leaves
Toothed LeavesToothed leaves
Round StemRound stem
Fibrous RootsFibrous roots
60cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Spotted Medick
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Spotted Medick is a native annual plant of the UK, typically found growing in grassland and lawns, to a mature height of up to 60cm.

Spotted Medick is named after the dark V-shaped markings on its leaflets and its membership of the genus Medicago, which have trifoliate leaves and clover-like flowers. In the case of Spotted Medick, however, the flowers are arranged singly or in clusters of up to four flowers, and therefore not so obviously 'clover-like'.

Botanic classification and naming: Spotted Medick is a member of the Pea (Fabaceae) family. The genus name 'Medicago' identifies the plant as a Medick and its species name 'arabica' means 'Arabian plant'.

Benefits: Spotted Medick has root nodules that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These make atmospheric nitrogen available to feed the plant and enrich the soil.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Spotted Medick

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Spotted Medick usually flowers between May and August.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Yellow

Yellow

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Winged

Winged

Petals:

Petal Number =  5

5

Leaf of Spotted Medick

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Trifoliate

Trifoliate

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is toothed

toothed

Stem of Spotted Medick

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Round

Round

Root type:

Root Type is Fibrous

Fibrous