Medicago littoralis

Medicago littoralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Medicago
Species:
M. littoralis
Binomial name
Medicago littoralis
Lois
Synonyms
  • Medicago arenaria Ten.
  • Medicago cylindracea DC.
  • Medicago littoralis subsp. cylindracea (DC.) Nyman
  • Medicago littoralis subsp. tricycla (DC.) J. M. Lainz
  • Medicago striata sensu auct.ital.
  • Medicago subinermis Bertol.
  • Medicago tricycla DC.
  • Medicago truncatula subsp. littoralis (Lois.) Ponert

Medicago littoralis is an annual plant species of the genus Medicago. Its native range encompasses the Mediterranean Basin, from Macaronesia to the Caucasus; it has been introduced elsewhere. It is useful as a forage for livestock. As a leguminous plant, it is capable of adding nitrogen to soils, through its symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which enables nitrogen fixation. Common names include shore medick, water medick, coastal medick, and strand medick.