Synonyms: (Medicago apiculata, Medicago denticulata, Medicago hispida, Medicago hispida var. apiculata, Medicago hispida var. confinis, Medicago hispida var. lappacea, Medicago hispida var. nigra, Medicago lappacea, Medicago polycarpa, Medicago polymorpha f. apiculata, Medicago polymorpha var. brevispina, Medicago polymorpha var. ciliaris, Medicago polymorpha var. polygyra, Medicago polymorpha var. tricycla, Medicago polymorpha var. vulgaris)
Status: Burclover was introduced to North America from the Mediterranean basin and now naturalized and widely established throughout the world.
Duration:Annual or perennial; plants laying flat on the ground and mat-forming with multiple branches.
Size: May grow more then 2 feet (60 cm) long, tends to travel along substrate, horizontally or vertically.
Growth Form: Burclover is a forb/herb; it is common and widely established.
Leaves: Burclover has green compound leaves that are divided into three round leaflets.
Flower Color: Burclover has small bright yellow flowers clustered into heads on stem tips; the fruit is a brown legumepod which has prickles as shown in the photo above.
Flowering Season: March to June or July
Elevation: Below 5,000 feet (1,500 m).
Habitat Preferences:chaparral vegetation, oak woodland, streambanks, roadsides, disturbed areas, fields, lawns, grasslands, pastures, agricultural lands (especially alfalfa fields) and lawns.
Recorded Range: Widespread throughout the southern, western and eastern shoreline, it is also found in Alaska and most of Canada.
North America species range map for Burclover, Medicago polymorpha:
Click image for full size map.
U.S. Weed Information: See U.S. and international noxious and invasive weed information below.
U.S. Wetland Indicator: In North America Medicago polymorpha has the following wetland designations:
Alaska, FACU
Arid West, FACU
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, FACU;
Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, FACU;
Great Plains, FACU;
Hawaii, UPL
Midwest, FACU;
Northcentral & Northeast, FACU;
Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast, FACU;
FAC = Facultative, occur in wetlands and non-wetlands
FACU = Facultative Upland, usually occur in non-wetlands, but may occur in wetlands
UPL = Obligate Upland, almost never occur in wetlands
U.S. Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: In North America, according to Invasive.org, (Invasive and Exotic Species of North America), Medicago polymorpha is listed as an invasive species by the following authorities:
Alaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse
California Invasive Plant Council
Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
International Invasive/Noxious Weed Information:1The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, (CABI), and 2The Invasive Species Compendium (ISC) has identified Medicago polymorpha as an “Invasive Species, Pest and Host Plant”; it is native to western and central Asia and countries around the Mediterranean, and has been introduced widely around the world.
1The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England; The US Department of Agriculture is a lead partner with CABI.
2The Invasive Species Compendium (ISC) is an encyclopedic resource that brings together a wide range of different types of science-based information to support decision-making in invasive species management worldwide.
Threatened/Endangered Information: Unknown
Genus Information: In North America, USDA Plants Database lists 39 species for Medicago. Worldwide, World Flora Online includes 134 accepted names and The Plant List has 121 records for Medicago which includes sub-species and varieties.
The genus Medicago was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, (1707-1778).
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 4 species of genus, California has 7 species, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah each have 3 species and Texas has 6 species. Data approximate, subject to revision.
Comments: Burclover is an annual broad-leaf species, a weedy herb that is originally from Europe. It is now naturalized and common where found. Plants are weedy and well adapted to disturbed- and waste-areas. Livestock forage on the plant and may be grown for pasture or a cover crop.
The fruit, a nasty bur is spread around as it clings to clothing or fur.
Burclover, Medicago polymorpha has attractive flowers, the flowers and their seeds may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of nectar or food.
Medicago polymorpha is decent forage for livestock with the exception of horses and mules.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects
Burclover, Medicago polymorpha has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, Native Bees and other insects in search of food and nectar.
Medicago polymorpha is an adult food source for;
Find out more from Butterflies and Moths of North America, (BAMONA).
U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Center, Plant Guide;
The USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide has a comprehensive, excellent information on-line guide regarding this invasive species. Click here for the information.
Etymology:
The genus “Medicago” is from the Greek word "Medlick" or "medick" meaning alfalfa and the species epithet polymorpha means many forms or variable.
The genus Medicago was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, (1707-1778).
