black medic

Medicago lupulina

Black Medic (Medicago Lupulina) is an introduced plant species that is native to Eurasia and Africa. It is a nitrogen fixing species and an important cover crop in the eastern United States and Canada. It typically grows as a low-lying, nitrogen-rich, rosette-forming plant with dark green stems and leaves. Its small, yellow flowers are clustered in dense, round heads that have a black appearance. It is an efficient forager of phosphorus and other essential minerals and is known to tolerate dry, nutrient-deficient soils. It is often used as a cover crop in commercial vegetable farming, where it competes with weeds and helps to improve soil structure. It is also a valuable food source for beneficial insects and birds.