WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

The species is common and widespread throughout the UK often as a casual but mainly South of the Wash. Habitat includes: rough grassland, roadside verges, wasteland, field margins, track-sides, allotments etc. (ssp. sativa), heaths, sea walls, roadside verges, track-sides (ssp. falcata). 2 subspecies and 1 notho subspecies (fertile hybrid between the two): Sickle Medick (Medicago sativa ssp. falcata), Lucerne (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa), Sand Lucerne (Medicago sativa nothossp. varia). flowers: June to July. Growing habit: Perennial.

ssp. falcata is Native and is scattered throughout England (mainly S.E.) and coastal parts of Britain. It is in decline

ssp. sativa is a Neophyte and the most common, being distributed throughout the UK but mainly England. It was first cultivated as a fodder and green manure crop in Britain in the 17th century and was recorded from the wild by 1804. It was more frequently grown in a period of world protein shortage in the 1950s, especially on dry sandy soils. Native origin: Not known but possibly S.W. Asia it is naturalised around the globe

nothossp. varia, a fertile hybrid between the two subspecies follows a similar distribution to ssp. falcata being most common in the S.E. but scattered throughout.