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early medic, Mediterranean medic

Habit Plants annual, 10–20 cm.
Stems

decumbent, glabrous to sparsely pubescent.

Leaves

pinnate;

leaflets wedge-shaped or obovate; length > width, 3–8 mm, bases cuneate;

margins distally denticulate;

veins raised;

tips emarginate;

surfaces abaxially slightly pubescent, adaxially glabrous;

petioles 2–5 mm;

petiolules 0.5–2 mm;

stipules 2–4 mm;

margins strongly lacerate.

Inflorescences

1–3-flowered;

peduncles 1.5–3 mm;

pedicels 0.5–1 mm.

Flowers

calyces 1.5–2 mm;

corollas 2.5–4 mm, yellow or variegated yellow-purple; ephemeral.

Fruits

spirally coiled 3–4 turns; spherical or disk-like, 5–10 mm, sparsely hairy; dorsal sutures spiny;

spines hooked, 2–3 mm.

Seeds

several, reniform, 1.7–2.4 × 0.9–1.3 mm, yellow to brownish yellow.

2n

=14.

Medicago praecox

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Gravelly and grassy areas, roadsides, near beaches. Flowering Apr–May. 0–300 m. Est. CA; Australia, Europe. Exotic.

Medicago praecox has tiny flowers that appear similar to M. polymorpha, but the leaflets of the latter are usually glabrous and generally twice as long as those of M. praecox. Medicago praecox also has fewer flowers per inflorescence.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 708
Nurul Khalib, Melanie Link-Perez
Sibling taxa
M. arabica, M. falcata, M. lupulina, M. minima, M. polymorpha, M. sativa, M. turbinata
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