Medicago

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Medicago

Medicago (family: Fabaceae

Fabaceae

Fabaceae or Leguminosae is a large and economically important family of flowering plants, which is commonly known as the legume family, pea family, bean family or pulse family....
, the legume

Legume

A legume is a plant in the family Fabaceae , or a fruit of these specific plants. A legume fruit is a Fruit#Simple fruit that develops from a simple carpel and usually Dehiscence on two sides....
family) is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover. The best known member of the genus is alfalfa

Alfalfa

Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop. In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand it is known as lucerne and as lucerne grass in south Asia....
(M. sativa), an important crop. The species Medicago truncatula
Medicago truncatula

Medicago truncatula is a small legume native to the Mediterranean region. It is a low-growing clover-like plant 10–60 cm tall with trifoliate leaf, each leaflet rounded, 1–2 cm long, often with a dark spot in the center....
is a model legume due to its relatively small stature, genome (450–500Mb), short generation time (~3 months) and ability to reproduce both by outcrossing

Outcrossing

Outcrossing is the practice of introducing unrelated genetic material into a breeding line. It increases genetic diversity, thus reducing the probability of all individuals being subject to disease or reducing genetic abnormalities....
and selfing.

The Medicago genus contains 83 species, including the agriculturally important alfalfa (M.

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Encyclopedia

Medicago (family: Fabaceae
Fabaceae

Fabaceae or Leguminosae is a large and economically important family of flowering plants, which is commonly known as the legume family, pea family, bean family or pulse family....
, the legume
Legume

A legume is a plant in the family Fabaceae , or a fruit of these specific plants. A legume fruit is a Fruit#Simple fruit that develops from a simple carpel and usually Dehiscence on two sides....
family) is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover. The best known member of the genus is alfalfa
Alfalfa

Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop. In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand it is known as lucerne and as lucerne grass in south Asia....
(M. sativa), an important crop. The species Medicago truncatula
Medicago truncatula

Medicago truncatula is a small legume native to the Mediterranean region. It is a low-growing clover-like plant 10–60 cm tall with trifoliate leaf, each leaflet rounded, 1–2 cm long, often with a dark spot in the center....
is a model legume due to its relatively small stature, genome (450–500Mb), short generation time (~3 months) and ability to reproduce both by outcrossing
Outcrossing

Outcrossing is the practice of introducing unrelated genetic material into a breeding line. It increases genetic diversity, thus reducing the probability of all individuals being subject to disease or reducing genetic abnormalities....
and selfing.

The Medicago genus contains 83 species, including the agriculturally important alfalfa (M. sativa), and is distributed mainly around the Mediterranean basin. Comprehensive descriptions of the genus are Lesinš and Lesinš 1979 and Small and Jomphe 1989. Major collections are SARDI (Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
), USDA-GRIN (USA), ICARDA (Syria
Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is an Arab-majority country in Southwest Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north....
), and the INRA collection in Montpellier
Montpellier

Montpellier is a city in the south of France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon Regions of France, as well as the H?rault Departments of France....
(France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
). Several molecular phylogenies containing most of the species are available, although they differ.

Most members of the family are low, creeping herbs. However, alfalfa grows to a height of 1 meter, and tree medick (M. arborea) is a shrub.

Ecological Interactions with Other Organisms

Symbiosis
Symbiosis

The term symbiosis commonly describes close and often long-term interactions between different biological species. The term was first used in 1879 by the Germany mycology Heinrich Anton de Bary, who defined it as "the living together of unlike organisms"....
With Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria Rhizobia
Rhizobia

Rhizobia are soil bacterium that Nitrogen fixation nitrogen after becoming established inside root nodules of legumes . Rhizobia require a plant host; they cannot independently fix nitrogen....

Béna et al. (2005) constructed a molecular phylogeny of 23 Sinorhizobium strains and tested the symbiotic ability of 6 strains with 35 Medicago species. 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
Medicago lupulina

Medicago lupulina is a summer annual/perennial plant sometimes considered a weed. It has a tap root. Like other legumes, it has three leaflets; its center leaflet is on a separate Petiole ....
and Medicago truncatula
Medicago truncatula

Medicago truncatula is a small legume native to the Mediterranean region. It is a low-growing clover-like plant 10–60 cm tall with trifoliate leaf, each leaflet rounded, 1–2 cm long, often with a dark spot in the center....
) have been used as forage crops.
Insect Herbivores
Medicago species are used as food plants by the larva
Larva

A larva is a young form of animal with indirect developmental biology, going through or undergoing metamorphosis .The larva can look completely different from the adult form, for example, a caterpillar differs from a butterfly....
e of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera is an order of insect that includes moths and butterfly. It is one of the most speciose orders in the class Insecta, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterfly, skipper , and Hedylidae....
species including Common Swift
Common Swift (moth)

The Common Swift is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus. It is a common, often abundant European species....
, Flame
Flame (moth)

The Flame is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe.This species has creamy-buff forewings with black streaking along the Glossary of Lepidopteran terms....
, Latticed Heath
Latticed Heath

The Latticed Heath is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout Europe, the Near East and North Africa. It is a fairly common species in the British Isles....
, Lime-speck Pug
Lime-speck Pug

The Lime-speck Pug is a moth of the family Geometer moth. It is a common species throughout the Palearctic region, the Near East and North Africa....
, Nutmeg
Nutmeg (moth)

The Nutmeg , also known as the Clover Cutworm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe although in the north of its range it is a summer Insect migration, not being able to survive the cold winters....
, Setaceous Hebrew Character
Setaceous Hebrew Character

The Setaceous Hebrew Character is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common species throughout Europe.The forewings of this species are reddish brown with distinctive patterning towards the base: a black mark resembling the Hebrew language letter Nun : ? with a pale cream coloure...
, Turnip Moth
Turnip Moth

The Turnip Moth is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common European species.This is a very variable species with the forewings ranging from pale buff through to almost black....
and case-bearers of the genus Coleophora
Coleophora

Coleophora is a very large genus of moths of the family Coleophoridae with around 1000 described species. The genus is represented on all continents but the majority are found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions....
including C. frischella (recorded on M. sativa) and C. fuscociliella (feeds exclusively on Medicago spp).

List of Species
This list is compiled from .
Medicago agropyretorum
Medicago alatavica
Medicago arabica
Medicago arabica

Medicago arabica is a flowering plant of the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean basin but is found throughout the world. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago arborea
Medicago arborea

Medicago arborea is a plant species of the genus Medicago. Common names include moon trefoil, shrub medick, and tree medick....

Medicago archiducis-nicolai
Medicago astroites
Medicago blancheana
Medicago brachycarpa
Medicago brachycarpa

Medicago brachycarpa is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Middle East. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago cancellata
Medicago carstiensis
Medicago carstiensis

Medicago carstiensis is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found around the Adriatic Sea.External links...

Medicago caucasica
Medicago ciliaris
Medicago ciliaris

Medicago ciliaris or ciliate medick is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago constricta
Medicago constricta

Medicago constricta is an annual, non-climbing species of the genus Medicago. It is found in the Mediterranean basin from Greece to Israel....

Medicago coronata
Medicago coronata

Medicago arborea or crown medick is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago crassipes
Medicago cretacea
Medicago cyrenaea
Medicago daghestanica
Medicago difalcata
Medicago disciformis
Medicago doliata
Medicago edgeworthii
Medicago falcata
Medicago falcata

Medicago falcata is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is native to the Mediterranean basin, but is found throughout the world. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago fischeriana
Medicago glomerata
Medicago granadensis
Medicago grossheimii
Medicago gunibica
Medicago heldreichii
Medicago hemicoerulea
Medicago heyniana
Medicago hybrida
Medicago hypogaea
Medicago intertexta
Medicago intertexta

Medicago intertexta is a flowering plant of the family Fabaceae. It is found primarily in the western Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago karatschaia
Medicago komarovii
Medicago laciniata
Medicago laciniata

Medicago laciniata is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found primarily in the southern Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago lanigera
Medicago laxispira
Medicago littoralis
Medicago littoralis

Medicago littoralis is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found primarily in the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago lupulina
Medicago lupulina

Medicago lupulina is a summer annual/perennial plant sometimes considered a weed. It has a tap root. Like other legumes, it has three leaflets; its center leaflet is on a separate Petiole ....

Medicago marina
Medicago marina

Medicago marina is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is native to the Mediterranean basin but is found worldwide. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago medicaginoides
Medicago meyeri
Medicago minima
Medicago minima

Medicago minima is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is native to the Mediterranean basin but is found worldwide. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago monantha
Medicago monspeliaca
Medicago murex
Medicago murex

Medicago murex or spiny medick is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago muricoleptis
Medicago noeana
Medicago noeana

Medicago noeana is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Middle East. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago orbicularis
Medicago orbicularis

Medicago orbicularis is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago orthoceras
Medicago ovalis
Medicago papillosa
Medicago persica
Medicago phrygia
Medicago pironae
Medicago playtcarpa
Medicago polyceratia
Medicago polychroa
Medicago polymorpha
Medicago polymorpha

Medicago polymorpha is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is native to the Mediterranean basin but is found throughout the world....

Medicago praecox
Medicago praecox

Medicago praecox or early medick is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the northern Mediterranean. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago prostrata
Medicago radiata
Medicago radiata

Medicago radiata or ray-podded medick is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the eastern Mediterranean and in Asia....

Medicago retrorsa
Medicago rhodopea
Medicago rigida
Medicago rigidula
Medicago rigiduloides
Medicago rotata
Medicago rotata

Medicago rotata is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the eastern Mediterranean from Turkey to Israel. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago rugosa
Medicago rupestris
Medicago ruthenica
Medicago sativa
Medicago sauvagei
Medicago saxatilis
Medicago schischkinii
Medicago scutellata
Medicago scutellata

Medicago scutellata is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago secundiflora
Medicago shepardii
Medicago sinskiae
Medicago soleirolii
Medicago strasseri
Medicago suffruticosa
Medicago syriaca
Medicago talyschensis
Medicago tenoreana
Medicago tornata
Medicago transoxana
Medicago truncatula
Medicago truncatula

Medicago truncatula is a small legume native to the Mediterranean region. It is a low-growing clover-like plant 10–60 cm tall with trifoliate leaf, each leaflet rounded, 1–2 cm long, often with a dark spot in the center....

Medicago tunetana
Medicago turbinata
Medicago turbinata

Medicago turbinata or Southern medick is a plant species of the genus Medicago. It is found throughout the Mediterranean basin. It forms a symbiosis relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae, which is capable of nitrogen fixation....

Medicago vardanis
Medicago virescens