Medicago scutellata
(L.) Mill. Snail MedicProstrate or ascending annual herb; stems 20–70 cm long, moderately to densely hairy; hairs glandular. Leaflets obovate to elliptic, 10–30 mm long, 5–22 mm wide, margins serrate almost throughout, upper surface glabrous, sometimes with darker flecks, lower surface appressed-hairy, apex rounded or subacute with a terminal tooth; stipules to c. 15 mm long, dentate, both surfaces hairy. Inflorescence 1–3-flowered; peduncle 0.5–1.5 cm long, equal to or shorter than subtending petiole. Pedicels to c. 2 mm long; calyx c. 4 mm long, teeth equal to or longer than tube; corolla yellow; standard 6–7 mm long; wings slightly shorter than keel. Pod with 5–8 coils, ellipsoid to cupular, 3–9 mm long, 7–14 mm diam., sparsely glandular hairy, spineless; coil edge thin; face reticulate-veined; submarginal veins absent; seeds 4–6, to c. 6 mm long, yellow-brown. Flowers Aug.–Feb.
Also naturalised WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. Native to the Mediterranean. Known from a few pre-1952 collections, from widely scattered localities in Victoria where it grows in heavy soils in pasture and along road verges.
Jeanes, J.A. (1996). Fabaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 663–829. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
