Medicago lupulina
Fabaceae
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
- Flower Form: Pea flowers, palmate leaves
- Life Cycle: Annual, Perennial
- Height: 4–20 inches
- Habitat: Disturbed, East-side Forest, West-side Forest
- Found In: Mt. Rainier NP, N Cascades NP, Olympic NP, Steens, Wallowas
- Native: No
- Also Known As: Yellow Trefoil
