Fabaceae

Medicago lupulina

Black Medic

Stems prostrate to upright. Plant bears fine hairs. Leaves consist of 3 leaflets, each 1/5–4/5 in. long, finely toothed on upper half. Flowers tiny, yellow, pea-like, in round to spiky clusters at top of stalks arising along stems. Seedpods black, tightly coiled about 5 times, without prickles. Grows in disturbed areas and forests at low to high elevations. A native of Eurasia. Introduced as a forage crop, now grows over most of the United States. A common lawn weed.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
• Life Cycle: Annual, Perennial
• Height: 4--20 inches
• Habitat: East-Side Forest, West-Side Forest, Disturbed
• Found In: Steens, Wallowas, Mt. Rainier Np, Olympic Np, N Cascades Np
• Native: No