Medicago

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Faboideae
Tribus: Trifolieae
Genus: Medicago
Species: M. arabica – M. arborea – M. archiducis-nicolai – M. arenicola – M. astroites – M. biflora – M. bonarotiana – M. brachycarpa – M. cancellata – M. carica – M. carstiensis – M. ciliaris – M. constricta – M. coronata – M. crassipes – M. cretacea – M. daghestanica – M. disciformis – M. doliata – M. edgeworthii – M. falcata – M. fischeriana – M. globosa – M. granadensis – M. halophila – M. heldreichii – M. heyniana – M. huberi – M. hybrida – M. hypogaea – M. intertexta – M. isthmocarpa – M. laciniata – M. lanigera – M. laxispira – M. lessingii – M. littoralis – M. lupulina – M. makranica – M. marina – M. medicaginoides – M. minima – M. monantha – M. monspeliaca – M. murex – M. muricoleptis – M. noeana – M. orbicularis – M. orthoceras – M. ovalis – M. pamphylica – M. papillosa – M. persica – M. phrygia – M. pironae – M. platycarpos – M. plicata – M. polyceratia – M. polymorpha – M. popovii – M. praecox – M. prostrata – M. radiata – M. retrorsa – M. rhodopea – M. rhytidiocarpa – M. rigida – M. rigidula – M. rigiduloides – M. rostrata – M. rotata – M. rugosa – M. rupestris – M. ruthenica – M. sativa – M. sauvagei – M. saxatilis – M. scutellata – M. secundiflora – M. shepardii – M. sinskiae – M. soleirolii – M. sphaerocarpos – M. suffruticosa – M. syriaca – M. tenoreana – M. tetraprostrata – M. tornata – M. truncatula – M. turbinata

Nothospecies: M. × blancheana – M. × canariensis – M. × casellasii – M. × mixta – M. × sabulensis – M. × varia
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Medicago in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Jun 08. Reference page.

Name

Medicago L., Sp. Pl. 2: 778 (1753), nom. cons..

Type species: Medicago sativa L., typ. cons.

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Cochleata Medik., Vorles. Churpfälz. Phys.-Ökon. Ges. 2: 385 (1787).
Crimaea Vassilcz., Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 16: 131 (1979).
Diploprion Viv., Fl. Lib. Spec. 48, t. 19 (1824).
Factorovskya Eig, Zionist Org. Inst. Agric. & Nat. Hist., Bull. 6, 11 (1927).
Kamiella Vassilcz., Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 16: 134 (1979).
Lupularia (Serg.) Opiz, Seznam: 61 (1852).
Lupulina Noulet, Fl. Bass. Sous-Pyrén. 156 (1837).
Medica Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr. Ed. 4: s. p. (1754).
Medicula Medik., Vorles. Churpf. Phys. Ges. 2: 386 (1787).
Nephromedia Kostel., Ind. Hort. Bot. Prag.: 92 (1844).
Pseudomelissitus Ovcz., Rassulova & Kinzik., Fl. Tadzhikskoi SSR 5: 629, 328 (1978).
Radiata Medik., Phil. Bot. 1: 208 (1789).
Rhodusia Vassilcz., Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 9: 204 (1972).
Spirocarpus Opiz, Seznam: 93 (1852).
Trifillium Medik., Vorles. Churph. Phys. Ges. 2: 383 (1787).
Turukhania Vassilcz., Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 16: 132 (1979).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Northern Europe
Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden.
Regional: Middle Europe
Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland.
Regional: Southwestern Europe
Baleares, Corse, France, Portugal, Sardegna, Spain.
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Romania, Sicilia, Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia.
Regional: Eastern Europe
Belarus, Baltic States, Krym, Central European Russia, East European Russia, North European Russia, South European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Ukraine.
Continental: Africa
Regional: Northern Africa
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara.
Regional: Macaronesia
Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira.
Regional: West Tropical Africa
Liberia, Mauritania, Niger.
Regional: Northeast Tropical Africa
Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan.
Regional: East Tropical Africa
Kenya, Tanzania.
Regional: South Tropical Africa
Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
Regional: Southern Africa
Botswana, Cape Provinces, Lesotho, Namibia, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Provinces.
Regional: Middle Atlantic Ocean
St. Helena.
Regional: Western Indian Ocean
Mauritius, Réunion.
Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Siberia
Altay, Buryatiya, Chita, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutiya.
Regional: Russian Far East
Amur, Khabarovsk, Magadan, Primorye.
Regional: Middle Asia
Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan.
Regional: Caucasus
North Caucasus, Transcaucasus.
Regional: Western Asia
Afghanistan, Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Sinai, Turkey.
Regional: Arabian Peninsula
Gulf States, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen.
Regional: China
China South-Central, Hainan, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, China North-Central, Qinghai, China Southeast, Tibet, Xinjiang.
Regional: Mongolia
Mongolia.
Regional: Eastern Asia
Japan, Korea, Ogasawara-shoto, Taiwan.
Continental: Asia-Tropical
Regional: Indian Subcontinent
Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Himalaya.
Regional: Indo-China
Vietnam.
Regional: Malesia
Jawa, Philippines.
Regional: Papuasia
New Guinea.
Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
Norfolk Islands, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia.
Regional: New Zealand
Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand North, New Zealand South.
Continental: Pacific
Regional: Southwestern Pacific
New Caledonia.
Regional: South-Central Pacific
Easter Islands.
Regional: North-Central Pacific
Hawaii.
Continental: Northern America
Regional: Subarctic America
Yukon.
Regional: Northwestern U.S.A.
Colorado, Oregon.
Regional: North-Central U.S.A.
Illinois, Oklahoma.
Regional: Northeastern U.S.A.
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Vermont.
Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
Arizona, California.
Regional: South-Central U.S.A.
New Mexico, Texas.
Regional: Southeastern U.S.A.
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.
Regional: Mexico
Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Mexican Pacific Islands.
Continental: Southern America
Regional: Central America
Costa Rica, Guatemala.
Regional: Caribbean
Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico.
Regional: Northern South America
Venezuela.
Regional: Western South America
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.
Regional: Brazil
Brazil South.
Regional: Southern South America
Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Uruguay.
Continental: Antarctic
Regional: Subantarctic Islands
Crozet Islands, Kerguelen.

Note: Grey script symbolizes introduced occurrences.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 778. Reference page.

Additional references

Béna, G. 2001. Molecular phylogeny supports the morphologically based taxonomic transfer of the “medicagoid” Trigonella species to the genus Medicago L. Plant Systematics and Evolution 229(3–4): 217–236. DOI: 10.1007/s006060170012 Paywall ResearchGate Reference page.
Small, E. & Brookes, B.S. 1984. Reduction of the geocarpic Factorovskya to Medicago. Taxon 33(4): 622–635. DOI: 10.2307/1220780 JSTOR Reference page.
Small, E., Lassen, P. & Brookes, B.S. 1987. An expanded circumscription of Medicago (Leguminosae, Trifolieae) based on explosive flower tripping. Willdenowia 16(2): 415–437. JSTOR Reference page.
Small, E. 2011. Alfalfa and relatives. Evolution and classification of Medicago. 727 pp. NRC Research Press, Ottawa. ISBN 978-1-84593-750-8. Reference page.
Wei, Z. & Vincent, M.A. 2010. Medicago. Pp. 553–557 in Wu, Zh.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (eds.), Flora of China. Volume 10: Fabaceae. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, ISBN 978-1-930723-91-7. efloras PDF Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Medicago in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Jun 08. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Medicago. Published online. Accessed: Jun 08 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Medicago. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 08 Jun 2021.
Hassler, M. 2021. Medicago. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Jun 08. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2021. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Medicago. Accessed: 08 Jun 2021.
Euro+Med 2006 onwards: Medicago in Euro+Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Jun 08.

Vernacular names
العربية: فصة
беларуская: Люцэрна
català: Melgó
čeština: tolice
dansk: Sneglebælg
Deutsch: Schneckenklee
English: Medick
Esperanto: Medikago
eesti: Lutsern
فارسی: علف ماد
suomi: Mailaset
français: Luzerne
עברית: אספסת
hornjoserbsce: Šlinčina
magyar: Lucerna
հայերեն: Առվույտ
日本語: ウマゴヤシ属
қазақша: Жоңышқа
한국어: 개자리속
lietuvių: Liucerna
Nederlands: Rupsklaver
norsk: Sneglebelger, Luserner
polski: Lucerna
русский: Люцерна
slovenčina: lucerna
svenska: Lusernsläktet
українська: Люцерна
oʻzbekcha/ўзбекча: Beda
Tiếng Việt: Chi Linh lăng, Cỏ ba lá
Winaray: Medicago
中文: 苜蓿

Medicago is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover, in the legume family (Fabaceae). It contains at least 87 species and is distributed mainly around the Mediterranean basin.[2][3] The best-known member of the genus is alfalfa (M. sativa), an important forage crop,[4] and the genus name is based on the Latin name for that plant, medica, from Greek: μηδική (πόα) Median (grass).[5] Most members of the genus are low, creeping herbs, resembling clover, but with burs (hence the common name). However, alfalfa grows to a height of 1 meter, and tree medick (M. arborea) is a shrub. Members of the genus are known to produce bioactive compounds such as medicarpin (a flavonoid) and medicagenic acid (a triterpenoid saponin).[3] Chromosome numbers in Medicago range from 2n = 14 to 48.[6]

The species Medicago truncatula is a model legume[7] due to its relatively small stature, small genome (450–500 Mbp), short generation time (about 3 months), and ability to reproduce both by outcrossing and selfing.

Comprehensive descriptions of the genus are Lesinš and Lesinš 1979[8] and Small and Jomphe 1989.[9] Major collections are SARDI (Australia),[10] USDA-GRIN (United States),[11] ICARDA (Syria),[12] and INRA (France).[13]

Evolution

Medicago diverged from Glycine (soybean) about 53–55 million years ago (in the early Eocene),[14] from Lotus (deervetch) 49–51 million years ago (also in the Eocene),[14] and from Trigonella 10–22 million years ago (in the Miocene).[15]
Ecological interactions with other organisms
Symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia

Béna et al. (2005) constructed a molecular phylogeny of 23 Sinorhizobium strains and tested the symbiotic ability of six strains with 35 Medicago species.[16] Comparison of these phylogenies indicates many transitions in the compatibility of the association over evolutionary time. Furthermore, they propose that the geographical distribution of strains limits the distribution of particular Medicago species.
Agricultural uses

Other than alfalfa, several of the creeping members of the family (such as Medicago lupulina and Medicago truncatula) have been used as forage crops.[17]
Insect herbivores

Medicago species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the common swift, flame, latticed heath, lime-speck pug, nutmeg, setaceous Hebrew character, and turnip moths and case-bearers of the genus Coleophora, including C. frischella (recorded on M. sativa) and C. fuscociliella (feeds exclusively on Medicago spp.).
Species

This list is compiled from:[9][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]
Section Buceras
Subsection Deflexae

Medicago retrorsa (Boiss.) E. Small

Subsection Erectae

Medicago arenicola (Huber-Mor.) E. Small
Medicago astroites (Fisch. & Mey.) Trautv.
Medicago carica (Huber-Mor.) E. Small
Medicago crassipes (Boiss.) E. Small
Medicago fischeriana (Ser.) Trautv.
Medicago halophila (Boiss.) E. Small
Medicago heldreichii (Boiss.) E. Small
Medicago medicaginoides (Retz.) E. Small
Medicago monantha (C. A. Meyer) Trautv.
Medicago orthoceras (Kar. & Kir.) Trautv.
Medicago pamphylica (Huber-Mor. & Sirjaev) E. Small
Medicago persica (Boiss.) E. Small
Medicago phrygia (Boiss. & Bal.) E. Small
Medicago polyceratia (L.) Trautv.
Medicago rigida (Boiss. & Bal.) E. Small

Subsection Isthmocarpae

Medicago rhytidiocarpa (Boiss. & Bal.) E. Small
Medicago isthmocarpa (Boiss. & Bal.) E. Small

Subsection Reflexae

Medicago monspeliaca (L.) Trautv.

Section Carstiensae

Medicago carstiensis Wulf.

Section Dendrotelis

Medicago arborea L.
Medicago citrina (Font Quer) Greuter[Note 1]
Medicago strasseri Greuter, Matthas & Risse

Section Geocarpa

Medicago hypogaea E. Small

Section Heynianae

Medicago heyniana Greuter

Section Hymenocarpos

Medicago radiata L.

Section Lunatae

Medicago biflora (Griseb.) E. Small
Medicago brachycarpa M. Bieb.
Medicago huberi E. Small
Medicago rostrata (Boiss. & Bal.) E. Small

Section Lupularia

Medicago lupulina L.
Medicago secundiflora Durieu

Section Medicago

Medicago cancellata M. Bieb.
Medicago daghestanica Rupr.
Medicago hybrida (Pourr.) Trautv.
Medicago marina L.
Medicago papillosa Boiss.
M. p. macrocarpa
M. p. papillosa
Medicago pironae Vis.
Medicago prostrata Jacq.
M. p. prostrata
M. p. pseudorupestris
Medicago rhodopea Velen.
Medicago rupestris M. Bieb
Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa)
M. s. caerulea
M. s. falcata (Medicago falcata)
M. s. f. var. falcata
M. s. f. var. viscosa
M. s. glomerata
M. s. sativa
Medicago saxatilis M. Bieb
Medicago suffruticosa Ramond ex DC.
M. s. leiocarpa
M. s. suffruticosa

Section Orbiculares

Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bart.

Section Platycarpae

Medicago archiducis-nicolai Sirjaev
Medicago cretacea M. Bieb.
Medicago edgeworthii Sirjaev
Medicago ovalis (Boiss.) Sirjaev
Medicago playtcarpa (L.) Trautv.
Medicago plicata (Boiss.) Sirjaev
Medicago popovii (E. Kor.) Sirjaev
Medicago ruthenica (L.) Ledebour

Subsection Rotatae

Medicago blancheana Boiss.
Medicago noeana Boiss.
Medicago rugosa Desr.
Medicago rotata Boiss.
Medicago scutellata (L.) Miller
Medicago shepardii Post

Section Spirocarpos
Subsection Intertextae

Medicago ciliaris (L.) Krocker
Medicago granadensis Willd.
Medicago intertexta (L.) Miller
Medicago muricoleptis Tin.

Subsection Leptospireae

Medicago arabica (L.) Huds.
Medicago coronata (L.) Bart.
Medicago disciformis DC.
Medicago laciniata (L.) Miller
Medicago lanigera Winkl. & Fedtsch.
Medicago laxispira Heyn
Medicago minima (L.) Bart.
Medicago polymorpha L.
Medicago praecox DC.
Medicago sauvagei Nègre
Medicago tenoreana Ser.

Subsection Pachyspireae

Medicago constricta Durieu
Medicago doliata Carmign.
Medicago italica (Miller) Fiori
Medicago lesinsii E. Small
Medicago littoralis Rohde ex Lois.
Medicago murex Willd.
Medicago rigidula (L.) All.
Medicago rigiduloides E. Small
Medicago sinskiae Uljanova[Note 2]
Medicago soleirolii Duby
Medicago sphaerocarpos Bertol.[28]
Medicago syriaca E. Small
Medicago truncatula Gaertn.
Medicago turbinata (L.) All.

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved:[9]

Medicago agropyretorum Vassilcz.
Medicago alatavica Vassilcz.
Medicago caucasica Vassilcz.
Medicago cyrenaea Maire & Weiller
Medicago difalcata Sinskaya
Medicago grossheimii Vassilcz.
Medicago gunibica Vassilcz.
Medicago hemicoerulea Sinskaya
Medicago karatschaica (A. Heller) A. Heller
Medicago komarovii Vassilcz.
Medicago meyeri Gruner
Medicago polychroa Grossh.
Medicago schischkinii Sumnev.
Medicago talyschensis Latsch.
Medicago transoxana Vassilcz.
Medicago tunetana (Murb.) A.W. Hill
Medicago vardanis' Vassilcz.
Medicago virescens Grossh.

Recent molecular phylogenic analyses of Medicago indicate that the sections and subsections defined by Small & Jomphe, as outlined above, are generally polyphyletic.[2][15][16][29][30][31][32][33] However, with minor revisions sections and subsections could be rendered monophyletic.[15][29][30][31][32][33]
Notes

Some sources treat Medicago citrina as a synonym of Medicago arborea.

The validity of Medicago sinskiae has been questioned by Small and Jomphe, 1988.[9]

References

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Gholami A, De Geyter N, Pollier J, Goormachtig S, Goossens A (2014). "Natural product biosynthesis in Medicago species". Natural Product Reports. 31 (3): 356–380. doi:10.1039/C3NP70104B. PMID 24481477.
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