Burr Medic

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Burr Medic - Russell Best via NatureShare | Burr Medic - Russell Best via NatureShare | Burr Medic - Russell Best via NatureShare

Medicago polymorpha

A small spreading or ascending herb 15-40 cm tall with many branches near the base. Stems are hairless and mostly green. Leaves are heart-shaped to 2.7 cm long. Flowers are yellow, pea-like and usually in clusters of 2-5. The wings of the pea flower are longer than the keel (two petals fused to form a structure like the ridged keel of a boat).

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Distinctive Features

Herb which spreads along the ground with small yellow flowers. Young pod is hairless.
Biology

Annual. Found on roadsides and flood plains.
Native Status
Introduced
Flowering Time

Aug-Nov
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Medicago
Species
polymorpha

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Used as a livestock feed. Flowers have an explosive tripping mechanism for pollination.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Introduced