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Medicago arborea
  • Moon Trefoil

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Medicago genus in the family Leguminosae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Medicago arborea has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

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].

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Medicago arborea.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Medicago arborea.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[1]. 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[2]. Very easy if bottom heat is given[3].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Medicago arborea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a warm position in full sun, succeeding in dry or well-drained moist soils[4]. Best grown against a wall[4] in the colder areas of the country[2]. Tolerant of wind and salt spray[1], it grows well in maritime gardens[5].

Plants are not hardy in the colder areas of Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c when fully dormant[5][1], 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[3]. The flowers have a vanilla or sweet pea scent[6]. Any pruning should consist of cutting out dead wood in the spring[2].

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[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Medicago arborea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Medicago arborea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Medicago arborea
Genus
Medicago
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[3][1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
2 x 2 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.2 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (1989-00-00)
  6. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

"image:Medicago arborea2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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Facts about "Medicago arborea"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
Belongs to genusMedicago +
Functions asNitrogen fixer +
Has common nameMoon Trefoil +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partLeaves +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceMaritime exposure + and High wind +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone8 +
Has imageMedicago arborea2.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height2 +
Has mature width2 +
Has primary imageMedicago arborea2.jpg +
Has search namemedicago arborea + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameMedicago arborea +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates maritime exposureYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +