Medick

Medick (Medicago), a genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosae, sub-order Papilionaceae, nearly allied to Clover (q.v.), but distinguished from that and kindred genera by the sickle-shaped, or, in most species, spirally-twisted legume. The species, which are very numerous, are mostly annual and perennial herbaceous plants, with leaves of three leaflets like those of clover, and are natives of temperate and warm climates. A number of them are found in Britain, and many more in the south of Europe. They generally afford good green food for cattle, and some of them are cultivated like the clovers for this use, amongst which the most important is the Purple Medick, or Lucerne (q.v., M. sativa). Besides this, the Black Medick, Nonsuch, or Lupuline (M. lupulina), is one of the most generally cultivated. It is a common native of Britain, where it is very generally sown mixed with Red Clover and Rye-grass, and is useful where a close turf is desired.