Yellow lucerne, Sickle medick
Medicago falcata
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The stem can be 80 cm long. It can be erect or lie over. The leaflets are 5-20 mm long by 2-6 mm wide. They are broadly oval. The fruit are 8-11 mm long by 2.5 mm wide. There are 2-8 seeds.
There are about 56 Medicago species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows on grassy slopes and dry sandy fields. In Nepal it grows at 500 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 3,000-4,500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Central Asia, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Siberia, South America, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The flowers and young leaves are used as a vegetable.
It is a main wild vegetable in the Hexi corridor QiLian mountais, China.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Bhirin sag, Busuhang menpa, Gya so erpo, Kart yonca, Methya