Family: Fabaceae
Medicago scutellata
Citation:
Miller, Gard. Dict. edn 8 (1768).
Synonymy: M. polymorpha L. var. scutellata L., Sp. Pl. 779 (1753).
Common name: Snail medic.
Description:
More or less densely glandular-pubescent annual; branches 20-60 cm long; leaflets obovate to elliptic, 15-30 x 7-20 mm, cuneate, dentate in the upper part, glabrous above; stipules ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, incise-dentate; peduncle shorter than or equal to the length of the corresponding petiole, l-3-flowered, cuspidate.
Flowers 7-9 mm long, on pedicels shorter than the calyx tube; bracts lanceolate-acuminate, c. 1.5 mm long, scarious; calyx half the length of the flower or more, with glandular or simple hairs, teeth narrow, acuminate, usually longer than the tube; petals yellow to orange-yellow; standard obovate; wings equalling the keel.
Young pod rising and coiling in the calyx, then turning sideways, densely covered with glandular hairs; mature pod with almost vertical cup-shaped coils, elliptic, 9-18 mm across and 7-15 mm high, grey to dark-grey, spineless; 5-7 coils turning clockwise, imbricate like stacked bowls with the convex surfaces towards the pod base, papery; transverse veins numerous, conspicuous freely anastomosing and joining the strong marginal vein; seeds yellow, c. 5 mm long, 1 or 2 in a coil.
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Image source: fig. 350O in J.P. Jessop and H.R. Toelken Ed. 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Distribution:
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S.Aust.: LE, FR, YP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. a Mediterranean species.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Sept. — Nov.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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