Pixel Wild
Black Medick
Black Medick
Medicago lupulina
Plantae
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
Annual
Size
Small
Diet
Photosynthetic
Biome
Temperate grassland
Range
Eurasia and North Africa
Movement
Sessile
Breeding
Seeds
Defense
Camouflage
Status
Common

About

A low-growing clover-like plant found in lawns, roadsides, and meadows worldwide. Its tiny coiled seed pods turn jet-black when ripe — giving the plant its common name — while also fixing nitrogen in the soil through root bacteria.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    seed
    A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
  2. 2.
    sprout
    A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
  3. 3.
    sapling
    A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
  4. 4.
    mature
    Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Medicago
Species
Medicago lupulina