Medicago arborea
Moon Trefoil
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Medicago genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Medicago
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 2 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Mediterranean.
- Habitat
- Scrub and rocky hillsides[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[5]. 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[4]. Very easy if bottom heat is given[1].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a warm position in full sun, succeeding in dry or well-drained moist soils[2]. Best grown against a wall[2] in the colder areas of the country[4]. Tolerant of wind and salt spray[5], it grows well in maritime gardens[3]. Plants are not hardy in the colder areas of Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c when fully dormant[3][5], 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[1]. The flowers have a vanilla or sweet pea scent[6]. Any pruning should consist of cutting out dead wood in the spring[4]. 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[5].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8