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Medicago polymorpha

Species category

Agricultural

Common name

burclover, bur medick, toothed medick, California burclover

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

True seedTrue seed:
A mature fertilized ovule consisting of an embryo, with or without and external food reserve (e.g., endosperm) enclosed by the testa.

Shape

OvalOval:
Broadly elliptic.

Size

  • Length 2.8–3.8 mm
  • Width 1.8–2.2 mm
  • Thickness 1–1.2 mm

Color

Brown

Texture

Smooth

Other structures

HilumHilum:
The scar on the seed coat at the place of its detachment from the seed stalk (funiculus).
 is in shallow notch on seed margin.

Identification notes

Weak line between radicleRadicle:
The rudimentary root of the embryo, developing into the primary root after emergence from the seed coat.
 and cotyledonCotyledon:
The modified storage leaf or pair of leaves of an embryo and seedling (see primary leaf).
 lobes.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Fabaceae

Valid name

Medicago polymorpha L.

Synonyms

Medicago apiculata auct. non Willd. 
Medicago denticulata Willd. 
Medicago hispida Gaertn. 
Medicago hispida Gaertn. var. apiculata (Willd.) Urb.
Medicago hispida Gaertn. var. confinis (W.D.J. Koch) Burnat 
Medicago polycarpa Willd. 
Medicago polymorpha L. f. apiculata (Willd.) Shinners 
Medicago polymorpha L. var. brevispina (Benth.) Heyn 
Medicago polymorpha L. var. ciliaris (Ser.) Shinners 
Medicago polymorpha L. var. polygyra (Urb.) Shinners 
Medicago polymorpha L. var. tricycla (Gren. & Godr.) Shinners 
Medicago polymorpha L. var. vulgaris (Benth.) Shinners

Medicago polymorpha. Seeds with a shallow notch as the hilum.
Medicago polymorpha. Seeds with a shallow notch as the hilum.