Medicago polymorpha

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:FABACEAE
Species:Medicago polymorpha L.
Common Name:Smooth Bur Clover; Toothed Medick
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Annual
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:MEPO3
Plant Notes:Smooth Bur Clover is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to the Mediterranean basin. In Alabama it is found primarily in the southern half of the state. Smooth Bur Clover occurs on roadsides, in lawns, in fallow fields, in pastures, and on other disturbed areas. It is an annual with a tap root. The stems are decumbent, glabrous or slightly pubescent, and green in color. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, pinnately 3-foliolate, with deeply lacerate stipules. The leaflets are obovate to obcordate in outline, glabrous above and slightly pubescent below, with margins toothed above the middle. The leaflets are longer than wide, without a reddish blotch on the upper surface. Flowers are produced in few-flowered axillary racemes. The flowers are papilionaceous, yellow in color, with short pedicles. The fruit is a tightly coiled legume with 2-3 rows of spines arising from ridges. Smooth Bur Clover is sometimes planted as forage for livestock and for erosion control.—A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native
References:**

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyFABACEAE - Pea/Bean family
Genus Medicago
Species Medicago polymorpha L. - Smooth Bur Clover; Toothed Medick

Citation

Citation Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 779. 1753.
Basionym: **
Type: Without data, Clifford Herb. 378 (lectotype: BM). Lectotypified by Heyn, Bull. Res. Council Israel, Sect. D, Bot. 7: 157-177. 1959.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Medica apiculata Medica apiculata (Willdenow) Greene, Man. Bot. San Francisco 102. 1894.Medicago apiculata Willdenow 1802. 
Medica denticulata Medica denticulata (Willdenow) Greene, Man. Bot. San Francisco 102. 1894.Medicago denticulata Willdenow 1802. 
Medica polymorpha Medica polymorpha (Linnaeus) Scopoli, Fl. Carniol., ed. 2. 2: 89. 1772.Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus 1753. 
Medica reticulata Medica reticulata (Bentham) Bubani, Fl. Pyren. 2: 480. 1899.Medicago reticulata Bentham 1826. 
Medicago apiculata var. confinis Medicago apiculata Willdenow, var. confinis W. D. J. Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ. Helv. 164. 1835.  
Medicago denticulata var. brevispina Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. brevispina Bentham, Cat. Pl. Pyrenees 103. 1826.  
Medicago denticulata var. ciliaris Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. ciliaris Seringe, in de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 176. 1825.  
Medicago denticulata var. lappacea Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. lappacea Bentham, Cat. Pl. Pyrenees 103. 1826, nom. illegit.Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux 1792, nom. illegit.; Medicago nigra (Linnaeus) Krocker 1790; Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. nigra Linnaeus 1753. 
Medicago denticulata var. macracantha Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. macracantha Webb & Berthelot, Hist. Nat. Iles Canaries 3(2(2)): 64. 1842.  
Medicago denticulata var. vulgaris Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. vulgaris Bentham, Cat. Pl. Pyrenees 103. 1826, nom. inadmiss.Medicago denticulata Willdenow 1802. 
Medicago hispida var. apiculata Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. apiculata (Willdenow) Burnat, Fl. Alpes Marit. 2: 106. 1896.Medicago apiculata Willdenow 1802. 
Medicago hispida var. confinis Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. confinis (W. D. J. Koch) Burnat, Fl. Alpes Marit. 2: 106. 1896.Medicago apiculata Willdenow, var. confinis W. D. J. Koch 1835. 
Medicago hispida var. oligogyra Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. oligogyra Urban, App. Observ. Bot. 4. 1873.  
Medicago hispida var. pentacycla Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. pentacycla (de Candolle) Urban, Verh. Bot. Vereins Prov. Brandenburg 15: 75. 1873.Medicago pentacycla de Candolle 1813. 
Medicago hispida var. polygyra Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. polygyra Urban, App. Observ. Bot. 4. 1873.  
Medicago hispida var. reticulata Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. reticulata (Bentham) Ascherson & Graebner, Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 6(2): 431. 1907.Medicago reticulata Bentham 1826. 
Medicago hispida var. tricycla Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. tricycla (Godron) Urban, App. Observ. Bot. 3. 1873.Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, var. tricycla Godron 1849. 
Medicago lappacea Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, in Lamarck, Encycl. 3: 637. 1792, nom. illegit.Medicago nigra (Linnaeus) Krocker 1790; Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. nigra Linnaeus 1771. 
Medicago lappacea var. macracantha Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, var. macracantha (Webb & Berthelot) Lowe, Man. Fl. Madeira 1: 158. 1862.Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. macracantha Webb & Berthelot 1836. 
Medicago lappacea var. pentacycla Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, var. pentacycla (de Candolle) Godron, in Grenier & Godron, Fl. France 1: 390. 1849.Medicago pentacycla de Candolle 1813. 
Medicago lappacea var. tricycla Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, var. tricycla Godron, in Grenier & Godron, Fl. France 1: 390. 1849.  
Medicago lappacea var. tuberculata Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, var. tuberculata Godron, in Grenier & Godron, Fl. France 1: 390. 1849, nom. illegit.Medicago apiculata Willdenow, var. confinis W. D. J. Koch 1835. 
Medicago nigra Medicago nigra (Linnaeus) Krocker, Fl. Siles. 2(2): 244. 1790.Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. nigra Linnaeus 1771. 
Medicago pentacycla Medicago pentacycla de Candolle, Cat. Pl. Horti Monsp. 124. 1813.  
Medicago pentacycla var. vulgaris Medicago pentacycla de Candolle, var. vulgaris Bentham, Cat. Pl. Pyrenees 104. 1826, nom. inadmiss.Medicago pentacycla de Candolle 1813. 
Medicago polymorpha var. brevispina Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. brevispina (Bentham) Heyn, Scripta Hierosolymitana 12: 77. 1963.Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. brevispina Bentham 1826. 
Medicago polymorpha var. ciliaris Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. ciliaris (Seringe) Shinners, Rhodora 58: 9. 1956, non Linnaeus 1753.Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. ciliaris Seringe 1825. 
Medicago polymorpha var. nigra Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. nigra Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 454. 1771. Without data (lectotype: Morison, Pl. Hist. Univ. 2(2): t. 15(13). 1680). Lectotypified by Lassen, in Turland & C. E. Jarvis, Taxon 46: 475. 1997.
Medicago polymorpha var. polygyra Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. polygyra (Urban) Shinners, Rhodora 58: 9. 1956.Medicago hispida Gaertner, var. polygyra Urban 1873. 
Medicago polymorpha var. tricycla Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. tricycla (Godron) Shinners, Rhodora 58: 8. 1856.Medicago lappacea Desrousseaux, var. tricycla Godron 1849. 
Medicago polymorpha var. vulgaris Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. vulgaris (Bentham) Shinners, Rhodora 58: 310. 1956.Medicago denticulata Willdenow, var. vulgaris Bentham 1826, nom. inadmiss.; Medicago denticulata Willdenow 1802. 
Medicago reticulata Medicago reticulata Bentham, Cat. Pl. Pyrenees 101. 1826.  
Medicago sardoa Medicago sardoa Moris ex G. Don, Gen. Hist. 2: 170. 1832.  
Medicago apiculata Medicago apiculata Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3: 1414. 1802.  
Medicago denticulata Medicago denticulata Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3: 1414. 1802.  
Medicago hispida Medicago hispida Gaertner, Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 349. 1791, nom. illegit.Medicago nigra (Linnaeus) Krocker 1790; Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus, var. nigra Linnaeus 1771. 

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sumter

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1896 - 1969

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
UNA00059112 Barbour 16 Mar 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11103		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
AUA000012556 Pike 22 Feb 1988 Diamond, Alvin R.
4122		 AUA
Medicago Polymorpha L.
TROY000053627 Barbour 24 Mar 2022 Diamond, Alvin R.
29836		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
SAMF0001913 Baldwin 13 Mar 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#1128		 SAMF
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00017632 Mobile _ Jun 1884 Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000019448 Covington 10 Mar 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18744		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000024635 Montgomery 08 Feb 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20492a		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0015818 Houston 13 Dec 2013 Diamond, Alvin R.
24703		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
AUA000012553 Dale 8 Mar 1992 Diamond, Alvin R.
7957		 AUA
Medicago Polymorpha L.
TROY000033268 Montgomery 18 Apr 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21272		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0006964 Montgomery 08 Feb 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20492.1		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
AUA000028183 Macon 29 Mar 2012 Barger, T. Wayne
SP488		 AUA
Medicago Polymorpha L.
TROY000019447 Baldwin 04 Mar 2007 Keener, Brian R.
3342		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0006959 Baldwin 04 Mar 2007 Keener, Brian R.
3342		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000026101 Conecuh 10 Mar 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20508		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000005428 Dale 20 Feb 2000 Prazinko, Brian F.
s.n.		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0046910 Autauga 16 Nov 2017 Parker, Matthew R.
1476		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
AUA000027311 Montgomery 21 Feb 2013 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13687		 AUA
Medicago Polymorpha L.
TROY000036330 Baldwin 21 Feb 2009 Keener, Brian R.
5046		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00069056 Chilton 15 Apr 2007 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12578		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000005431 Pike 01 Apr 1989 Blanton, Lola M.
s.n.		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
USAM000006528 Mobile 23 Apr 1976 LeLong, Michel G.
9174		 USAM
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00017627 Sumter 14 Apr 1967 Thomas, Joab L.
987		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UNA00027612 Morgan _ Apr 1883 Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000019450 Houston 10 Apr 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18893		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00066633 Butler 04 Mar 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17296		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0015206 Henry 13 Jan 2013 Diamond, Alvin R.
23647		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
AUA000012554 Dale 8 Mar 1992 Diamond, Alvin R.
7947		 AUA
Medicago Polymorpha L.
TROY000019449 Geneva 06 Mar 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18735		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0013404 Marengo 09 Mar 2013 England, J. Kevin
4064		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
JSU149896 Mobile 28 Mar 1993 Ballard, J. Mark
1224		 JSU
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0032157 Houston 02 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26099		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0017698 Houston 02 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26092		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000005432 Pike 23 Mar 1989 Rutledge, Rachel
s.n.		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
ALNHS00000736 Mobile 04 Apr 2010 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#270		 ALNHS
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000045024 Marengo 09 Mar 2013 England, J. Kevin
4064		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0052531 Baldwin 26 Mar 2019 Keener, Brian R.
11034.1		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000036500 Henry 13 Jan 2013 Diamond, Alvin R.
23647		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00027614 Mobile 16 Jun 1896 Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000005423 Barbour 16 Mar 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11103		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0006963b Covington 10 Mar 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
18744		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0006965 Montgomery 01 Jan 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17275		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000005425 Coffee 03 May 2000 Martin, Brian H.
673		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0036635 Mobile 14 Mar 2017 Horne, Howard E.
3726		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000005427 Crenshaw 22 Apr 2001 Diamond, Alvin R.
12379		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
AUA000012552 Choctaw 24 Apr 1994 Crouch, Virginia E.
897		 AUA
Medicago Polymorpha L.
UNA00027615 Mobile s.d. Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0043375 Baldwin 05 Feb 2006 Larsen, Harry S.
1505		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000048858 Autauga 14 Dec 2017 Parker, Matthew R.
1476		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0016595 Montgomery 21 Feb 2013 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13687		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
UNA00017629 Greene 06 May 1967 Naugle, Helen E.
G 279		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UNA00017628 Marengo 11 Apr 1969 Thomas, Joab L.
1925		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0043376 Baldwin 23 Apr 2004 Larsen, Harry S.
1348		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000005430 Montgomery 01 Jan 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17275		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00066615 Montgomery 01 Jan 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17275		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0006962 Conecuh 10 Mar 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20508		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
JSU135520 Houston 24 Apr 1994 MacDonald, John R.
7118		 JSU
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000005426 Crenshaw 05 May 2002 Diamond, Alvin R.
13125		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
USAM000006527 Mobile 11 Apr 1980 LeLong, Michel G.
11047		 USAM
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0049493 Baldwin 10 Apr 2018 Bryson, Charles T.
25547		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0006960 Butler 04 Mar 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17296		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000005429 Dale 23 Feb 1999 Rundell, Hannelore
689		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0038956 Macon 29 Mar 2012 Taylor, Chris T.
SP#488		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000042256 Houston 23 Apr 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26193		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0010297 Baldwin 21 Feb 2009 Keener, Brian R.
5046		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000038889 Houston 13 Dec 2013 Diamond, Alvin R.
24703		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00008881 Pike 20 Apr 1961 Harper, Roland M.
4514		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
TROY000022895 Chilton 15 Apr 2007 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12578		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UWAL0006961 Chilton 15 Apr 2007 Spaulding, Daniel D.
12578		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0042722 Fayette 29 Mar 2019 England, J. Kevin
10051		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
UNA00066980 Baldwin 04 Mar 2007 Keener, Brian R.
3342		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
UWAL0013435 Marengo 20 Apr 2013 England, J. Kevin
4141		 UWAL
Medicago polymorpha L.
ALNHS00004882 Baldwin 08 Mar 2017 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#2908		 ALNHS
Medicago polymorpha L.
UNA00017626 Mobile 21 Mar 1964 Deramus, Rebecca
D10		 UNA
Medicago polymorpha L.
JSU135641 Lee 28 Mar 1964 Bozarth, Gene A.
s.n.		 JSU
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000043844 Henry 25 Feb 2016 Diamond, Alvin R.
27196		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
TROY000005424 Butler 04 Mar 2007 Diamond, Alvin R.
17296		 TROY
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus
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