Plant Profile: Medicago polymorpha

Taxonomy: Medicago polymorpha

Names

Burclover, Bur Medic, California Burclover

  • Photo of Medicago polymorpha (Medicago polymorphas)

Phonetic Spelling:med-DIK-ah-go pol-ee-MOR-fuh

Genus:Medicago

Species:polymorpha

Family:Fabaceae

Burr Medic is a perennial weed belonging to the legume family. It tends to create dense mats on the soil surface as it proliferates, commonly appearing in locations such as roadsides, disturbed sites, and along streambanks. Its roots establish a symbiotic association with a specific fungus (Sinorhizobium medicae), enabling the plant to fix nitrogen effectively.

Medicago polymorpha Feature Summary

Medicago polymorpha Image Gallery

Tags

#weed
#weedy
#high maintenance
#stream banks
#disturbed areas
#annual weed
#roadside

Similar Plants

Medicago polymorpha is often confused with:

Medicago polymorpha Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe, Asia, Africa
Fruit
Prickly gray black cylidrical and coiled with burs that attach to fur for dispersal. Several seeds inside.
Gray/Silver
Black
Whole Plant Traits
Flowers
Gold/Yellow
Landscape

Medicago polymorpha Attributes

Medicago polymorpha: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, Asia, Africa

Medicago polymorpha: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Medicago polymorpha Fruit

Medicago polymorpha: Fruit Description

Prickly gray black cylidrical and coiled with burs that attach to fur for dispersal. Several seeds inside.

Medicago polymorpha: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Medicago polymorpha: Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Gray/Silver

Medicago polymorpha Whole Plant Traits

Medicago polymorpha: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Medicago polymorpha: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Medicago polymorpha: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Medicago polymorpha Flowers

Medicago polymorpha: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Medicago polymorpha Leaves

Medicago polymorpha: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Medicago polymorpha: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Medicago polymorpha Stem

Medicago polymorpha: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Medicago polymorpha Landscape

Medicago polymorpha: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy