Invasive Plant Details
Back to Full ListBlack Medic
Latin Name: Medicago lupulina
Identification
Flower: Small, yellow to orange, pea-like flowers arranged in dense, rounded clusters that bloom from late spring to early summer.
Leaves: Compound leaves with three leaflets, each leaflet is oval and has a smooth or slightly serrated edge. The leaves are often covered with fine hairs.
Stems: Low growing, spreading, and usually creeping along the ground, with stems that can root at nodes.
Growing Environment: Thrives in a variety of soil types, often found in pastures, lawns, and disturbed areas.
Growth Habit: An annual or biennial plant that forms a dense mat. It grows up to 20 cm in height and spreads horizontally, often covering the ground with its low foliage.
Impacts on Environment
Impacts: Can be beneficial as a forage crop but may also compete with other ground-cover plants such as grass in lawns with nutrient-poor, dry soils.