Medicago arborea is a flowering plant species in the pea and bean family, Fabaceae. Common names include moon trefoil, shrub medick, alfalfa arborea, and tree medick.
| Medicago arborea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Medicago |
| Species: | M. arborea |
| Binomial name | |
| Medicago arborea L. (1753) | |
| Subspecies[1] | |
|
3; see text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editThe shrub is 1–4 metres (3–13 ft) high and wide and is pale yellow in colour. Its stems are erect and terete while its stipules are triangular and 5–8 millimetres (1⁄4–3⁄8 in) long. Its petioles are 2–4 centimetres (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) long with obovate to obcordate leaflets.
Flowers are scattered in 6–10 racemes and are 2–2.5 cm (3⁄4–1 in) long with axillar peduncles which are 3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in). The corolla is of orange colour and is 12–15 mm (1⁄2–5⁄8 in). The bracts are 2 mm (1⁄8 in) long while its pedicels are 5 mm (1⁄4 in) long. Its legume is coiled in 0.5 to 1.5 spirals which are 12–15 mm (1⁄2–5⁄8 in) wide and are pubescent at the center. The seeds are 4 mm (1⁄8 in) long.[2]
M. arborea is sometimes misidentified as Cytisus, which it resembles.[3]
Subspecies
editThree subspecies are accepted.[1]
- Medicago arborea subsp. arborea (synonyms Cytisus neapolitanus Cohen-Stuart and Medicago arborescens C.Presl) – Spain, Balearic Islands, Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Crete, East Aegean Islands, and Turkey
- Medicago arborea subsp. citrina (Font Quer) O.Bolòs & Vigo (synonyms M. arborea var. citrina Font Quer and Medicago citrina (Font Quer) Greuter – eastern Spain and Balearic Islands
- Medicago arborea subsp. strasseri (Greuter, Matthäs & Risse) Sobr.-Vesp. & Ceresuela (synonym Medicago strasseri Greuter, Matthäs & Risse) – Crete
Distribution and habitat
editIt is native to several Mediterranean Basin countries – Spain and the Balearic Islands, Italy including and Sardinia and Sicily, Greece including Crete and the East Aegean Islands, and Turkey.[1] It primarily grows on rocky shores among shrubby vegetation.
Ecology
editIt forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation.
Uses
editIt is the only member of the genus Medicago which is used as an ornamental.[citation needed]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Medico arborea L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ↑ Medicago arborea, vol. 778, Flora of China
- ↑ Lesinš, Karlis Adolfs; Lesinš, Irma (1979). Genus Medicago (Leguminosae). The Hague, The Netherlands: Dr. W. Junk bv Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 90-6193-598-9.
External links
edit | This Trifolieae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |