Seasonal Wild Flowers

Spotted Medick

Medicago arabica

Fabaceae

April to September

It is common south of the Wash and scattered north of it.

See the BSBI distribution map for Spotted Medick

It grows in grassy places, often on sandy or gravelly soils

near the coast.

It is rather variable, e. g., small and low in mown lawns

and taller in nutrient-rich soils amongst a competing

flora.

It is on the increase inland.

Spotted Medick is a native, prostrate or sprawling, herb,

growing up to 60cm.

They are winter annuals - plants that germinate in autumn

or winter, live through the winter and flower in spring.

Flowers are bright yellow and small - up to 6mm across.

Fruiting pods are round, flat discs with rows of curved or

hooked spines.

Leaves are trefoils, with serrated tops and distinct dark

blotches.

Stipules run half way round the stem and are toothed.

Stems are almost hairless.

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Spotted Medick, Abbotsbury, Dorset

Flowerhead

Close-up of flower

Flat, round, spined fruit

Close-up of pod from above

Close-up of pod - side view

Leaves

Trefoil leaves with blotches and serrated tops

Toothed stipules