Citation: Bartal., Cat. Plants Siena 60 (1776).

Synonymy: M. polymorpha L. var. orbicularis L., Sp. Pl. 779 (1753).

Common name: Button medic.

Description:
Glabrous or sparsely hairy procumbent annual; stems 20-90 cm, branching secondarily throughout their length; leaflets obovate, 9-18 x 6-14 mm, cuneate to obcordate, dentate at the apex or in the upper two-thirds, midrib ending in a triangular tooth; stipules laciniate; peduncle cuspidate, shorter than the corresponding petiole, 1-5-flowered.

Flowers 4-6 mm long, on pedicels longer than or equal to the calyx tube; bract narrow-lanceolate, c. 1 mm long, acute; calyx 2-3 mm long, glabrous or sparsely hairy, teeth triangular, about as long as the tube; petals yellow, sometimes with a violet hue on the outer side of the obovate standard; wings shorter than the keel.

Young pod glabrous or with sessile glandular hairs, rising in a loose spiral from the calyx, then turning sideways; mature pod discoid, subspherical, cylindrical or lenticular, 9-20 mm across, soft, brown-yellow or blackened to different degrees, convex on both faces (end coils smaller), with paper-thin edges, spineless, glabrous or somewhat glandular-pubescent; 3-7 coils turning clockwise, with prominent transverse veins, usually anastomosing vein branches weak, ending in a slender but prominent suture; seed triangular, c. 3 mm long, yellowish-brown, warty, 3-6 in each coil.

Image source: fig. 350H in J.P. Jessop and H.R. Toelken Ed. 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: K. A. & I. Lesins (1979) Genus Medicago, fig. 15.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: YP, SL.   Native to the Mediterranean and extending to western Asia. Introductions as a plant in pastures have not been successful (e.g. Argentina); in S.Aust. it is doubtfully established. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Oct. — Dec.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available