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Medicago arborea - L.

Common Name Moon Trefoil
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Scrub and rocky hillsides[184].
Range Europe - Mediterranean.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Medicago arborea Moon Trefoil


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jeantosti
Medicago arborea Moon Trefoil
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jeantosti

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Medicago arborea is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[K]. This plant was supplied to Plants for a Future in early 1994 from a person in Greece who said that it was often used in salads there[K]. Young shoots, when the plant is growing vigorously, have a slightly sweet, grass-like flavour but a rather chewy texture[K]. Older leaves, and younger leaves if the plant is not growing vigorously, have a distinct bitterness and are rather unpleasant[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a warm position in full sun, succeeding in dry or well-drained moist soils[182]. Best grown against a wall[182] in the colder areas of the country[188]. Tolerant of wind and salt spray[200], it grows well in maritime gardens[184]. Plants are not hardy in the colder areas of Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c when fully dormant[184, 200], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. They do not succeed in the open at Kew, though they grow well against a wall[11]. The flowers have a vanilla or sweet pea scent[245]. Any pruning should consist of cutting out dead wood in the spring[188]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[200]. The seed can also be sown in a greenhouse in autumn. Germination should be quite rapid. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[188]. Very easy if bottom heat is given[11].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Medicago lupulinaBlack MedickAnnual/Perennial0.5 4-8 MLMHNM214
Medicago polymorphaToothed Bur-Clover, BurcloverAnnual0.6 0-0  LMNDM203
Medicago sativaAlfalfa, Yellow alfalfaPerennial1.0 4-11 MLMHNDM434

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

11200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Michael Meyer   Mon May 14 2007

I am looking for seeds of Medicago Arborea in the United States. I live in California and would like to grow this plant in my garden

Eloy Martinez Pulido   Sat Nov 8 2008

no esoy de acuerdo con la imagen presentada

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Subject : Medicago arborea  
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