Strand Medic
Medicago littoralis Loisel.

Synonyms -

Family: - Fabaceae

Names:

Other Names:

Summary:

A low lying to ascending, hairy, annual medic with trifoliate leaves with round to triangular, toothed leaflets without markings and the central leaflet on a longer stalk. The burr is a coiled spineless or short spined pod produced from yellow, pea type flowers.

Description:

Cotyledons:

Two. Club shaped. Tip round. Sides convex. Base tapered. Surface hairless. Petiole shorter than the blade and merging with it.

First leaves:

First leaf single, heart shaped. Tip round, Edges smooth, irregular, scalloped or toothed. Base indented, Hairy. Petiole longer than blade. Second and later leaves trifoliate.

Leaves:

Three leaflets (trifoliate) with the stalk of the central leaflet longer than those of the side leaflets.

Stipules - Pale green with darker veins. Edges deeply toothed.

Petiole - Longer than leaf blade, Hairy.

Blade - Of leaflets. Round to triangular. Tip flat to pointed. Edges toothed. Base tapered. Hairy. No leaf markings.

Stems:

Low lying or bending upwards. Hairy.

Flower head:

Clusters of flowers and burrs on a long stalk arising from the leaf axils.

Flowers:

Yellow pea type.

Ovary -

Calyx -

Petals - Yellow.

Stamens -

Anthers -

Fruit:

Coiled, burr like pod, cylindrical or flat round disk with flattened ends. 4-5 mm diameter by 4 mm tall. May have short spines.

Seeds:

Light brown, kidney shaped, slightly flattened with squarish ends, 3 mm long by 1-2 mm wide. Tip round to square. Edges concave or convex. Base round to square. Surface hairless.

Roots:

Taproot with nitrogen fixing nodules.

Key Characters:

Biology:

Life cycle:

Annual herb. Seeds germinate in autumn and winter.

Physiology:

Reproduction:

By seed.

Flowering times:

Spring.

Seed Biology and Germination:

Vegetative Propagules:

Hybrids:

Allelopathy:

Population Dynamics and Dispersal:

Spread by seed and intentional plantings.

Origin and History:

Mediterranean.

Distribution:

SA, WA.

Habitats:

Climate:

Temperate.

Soil:

Prefers alkaline soils.

Plant Associations:

Significance:

Beneficial:

Fodder.

Detrimental:

Weed of crops.

Toxicity:

Not recorded as toxic.

Symptoms:

Treatment:

Legislation:

None.

Management and Control:

Chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron or triasulfuron herbicides provide high levels of control in cereal crops. Clopyralid can be used in Canola.

Tolerant to grazing.

Thresholds:

More than 20 plants/m2 is usually worth controlling in cereal crops.

Eradication strategies:

In bushland situations, Logran® at 40g/ha provides reasonably selective control.

Herbicide resistance:

None reported. It is moderately tolerant to glyphosate.

Biological Control:

Related plants:

Barrel Medic. (Medicago truncatula)

Black Medic (Medicago lupulina)

Burr Medic (Medicago polymorpha, Medicago hispida)

Button Medic (Medicago orbicularis)

Calvary Medic (Medicago intertexta)

Cutleaf Medic (Medicago laciniata)

Disc Medic (Medicago tornata)

Gama Medic (Medicago rugosa)

Lucerne (Medicago falcata ssp. sativa)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa)

Small leaved Burr Medic (Medicago praecox)

Snail Medic (Medicago scutellata)

Spotted Medic (Medicago arabica)

Strand Medic (Medicago littoralis)

Woolly Burr Medic (Medicago minima)

Yellow Lucerne (Medicago falcata)

Plants of similar appearance:

Clovers (Trifolium species) usually have the central leaflet on a stalk the same length as the side leaflets.

Melilotus species

Oxalis species usually have a bitter taste.

Trefoils

References:

Bodkin, F. (1986). Encyclopaedia Botanica. (Angus and Robertson, Australia).

Everist, S.L. (1974). Poisonous Plants of Australia. (Angus and Robertson, Sydney).

Harden, Gwen J. (1991). Flora of NSW. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney). Volume . P. Diagram.

Lamp, C. and Collet, F. (1990). A Field Guide to Weeds in Australia. (Inkata Press, Melbourne).

Lazarides, M. and Cowley, K. and Hohnen, P. (1997). CSIRO handbook of Australian Weeds. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #638.8.

Moerkerk, M.R. and Barnett, A.G. (1998). More Crop Weeds. R.G. and F.J. Richardson, Melbourne. P86. Diagrams. Photos.

Acknowledgments:

Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.