Black Medick

Medicago lupulina

Black Medick is a small plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. It's often found in grassy areas and is loved by bees and butterflies!

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Black Medick has small, bright yellow flowers tightly clustered into spherical heads. Its clover-like leaves are made of three oval leaflets, with the central one on a slightly longer stalk. Mature seeds turn black and are kidney-shaped, giving the plant its name.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenFabalesFamiliaFabaceaeGéneroMedicago

Black Medick

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Ancient cultures sometimes used Black Medick for its supposed medicinal properties, long ago!

Its tiny leaves fold neatly at night, almost like they're going to sleep until morning!

The 'black' in its name comes from its mature, dark-colored seed pods, not its bright yellow flowers!

This hardy plant is a favorite snack for many grazing animals, like cows and sheep!

Habilidades especiales

Black Medick can fix nitrogen from the air with help from bacteria, which enriches the soil for other plants to grow.

Black Medick has tough seeds that can stay dormant in soil for years, ready to sprout when conditions are right.

Black Medick has a deep taproot that helps it reach water and nutrients, making it tough in dry conditions.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 15-60 cm
Extensión: 20-75 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 0.3-0.5 cm
Temporada de floración: Primavera a otoño
Comestible: Sí
Toxicidad: Ninguna
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen

symbiotic with

Rhizobia

Rhizobium leguminosarum

fixes nitrogen in its root nodules

eaten by

Cattle

Bos taurus

grazes on the leaves and stems

eaten by

Sheep

Ovis aries

forages on the plant as pasture

Rasgos

Fijador de nitrógeno

Describe a los organismos capaces de convertir el nitrógeno atmosférico en compuestos utilizables por las plantas.

Floración

Las plantas con flores son cualquier planta que produce flores como parte de su ciclo reproductivo.

Floración de verano

Las plantas de floración de verano producen sus flores durante la temporada estival, a menudo aportando un color vibrante cuando muchas otras plantas ya han terminado de florecer.