Medicago lupulina Linn., Sp. Pl. 779. 1753. Baker in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:90. 1876; Boiss., Fl. Or. 2: 105. 1872; Cooke, Fl. Bomb. Pres. (reprint ed.) 1:326. 1958.
Annual or perennial. Stem prostrate or ascending, up to 60 cm Tong, pubescent, hairs simple or glandular. Petiole up to 2.5 cm long. Leaflets 5-20 mm long, 4-8 mm broad, obovate, cuneate, retuse to obcordate, apiculate, serrate in the upper half; stipules cordate, dentate. Inflorescence an axillary, pedunculate raceme, peduncle 2.5-4 cm long. Bracts c. 0.5 mm long. Pedicel c. 1 mm long. Calyx 1-1.5 mm long, pubescent, teeth almost equal to slightly longer than the tube. Corolla 2.5-3 mm long, yellow. Fruit 2-3 mm, curved through 180°, sparsely pubescent to glabrescent, black, 1-seeded.
Fl. Per.: March-June.
Type: Described from Europe, Herb. Linn. 933/10 (LINN).
Distribution: Pakistan; Kashmir; India, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Europe, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somali Republic, Tanganyika and Kenya.
