Moon trefoil, Tree Medick
Medicago arborea
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 2-4 m high. The young stems are white and silky. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They are downy and greyish-green. The leaflets are oval and widest above the middle and narrow at the base. The flowers are pea-like and yellow. They are in round heads or 4-8 flowers. The fruit are spirally twisted seed pods. They are like snail shells. They are 12-15 mm long with a hole in the centre.
There are about 55 Medicago species.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate plant. It can be grown in coastal places. It grows in rocky places especially near cliffs. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Canada, China, Europe, France, Greece, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), North America, Portugal, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Cytisus