Medicago
alfalfa, bur-clover, medic
10 common names
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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed, open areas; often escaping from commercial cultivation.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: May-October
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial
Bur-clover (Medicago polymorpha)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, scattered eastward across much of North America.
Habitat: Waste ground and disturbed areas, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: March-June
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial
Little bur-clover (Medicago minima)
Distribution: Occurring in the east end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; Washington to California, east along the southern U.S. to eastern North America, also in the Hells Canyon area in Idaho.
Habitat: Roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed, open areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: March-June
Growth Duration: Annual
Hop clover (Medicago lupulina)
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout Washington; widely distributed throughout much of North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, lawns, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, often on sandy or gravelly soil.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial
Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed, open areas; often escaping from commercial cultivation.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: May-October
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial
Black medic (Medicago lupulina)
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout Washington; widely distributed throughout much of North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, lawns, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, often on sandy or gravelly soil.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial
Bur medic (Medicago minima)
Distribution: Occurring in the east end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; Washington to California, east along the southern U.S. to eastern North America, also in the Hells Canyon area in Idaho.
Habitat: Roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed, open areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: March-June
Growth Duration: Annual
Spotted medic (Medicago arabica)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, also in the southeastern U.S.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including wastelots, roadsides and fields.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Annual
Toothed medic (Medicago polymorpha)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, scattered eastward across much of North America.
Habitat: Waste ground and disturbed areas, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: March-June
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial
Smooth medic (Medicago polymorpha)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, scattered eastward across much of North America.
Habitat: Waste ground and disturbed areas, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: March-June
Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial