# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 39 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Black Medick](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/MedicagoLupulina02.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MedicagoLupulina02.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Medicago ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Nitrogen Supercharger:** Black Medick can fix nitrogen from the air with help from bacteria, which enriches the soil for other plants to grow. - **Seed Sprouter:** Black Medick has tough seeds that can stay dormant in soil for years, ready to sprout when conditions are right. - **Tough Taproot:** Black Medick has a deep taproot that helps it reach water and nutrients, making it tough in dry conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-75 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobia (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — fixes nitrogen in its root nodules - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — grazes on the leaves and stems - **Eaten by:** [Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — forages on the plant as pasture ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Medick? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Black Medick? 15-60 cm ### How wide does Black Medick spread? 20-75 cm ### How big are the flowers on Black Medick? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does Black Medick bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is Black Medick edible? Yes ### Is Black Medick toxic? None ### What is Black Medick's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Downtown Ossining Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-ossining-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Fort Caroline](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-caroline) — Florida, US · National Park [View all places to see Black Medick](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-medick) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Black Medick: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-medick)