Black Medick (Medicago lupulina)
- This is a low spreading plant with small, round, yellow flower heads which can be seen all over Cowbar.
- It’s a member of the legume / pea family and easily confused with meadow vetchling and birdsfoot trefoil from a distance.
- It is also sometimes known as ‘yellow trefoil, hop medic, black nonsuch, black weed or black clover.
- It flowers between April and August and has up to 50 flowers in each compact flower head.
- The tiny, kidney shaped black seed pods are one of the things distinguishing it from Spotted Medick which is more rare, has spotted leaves and green seed pods.
- It is a nectar plant for many butterflies such as the Common Blue, Brown Argus, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. It is a food plant for the larvae of the Common Blue Butterfly. Bees, moths and other pollinators are attracted also to its flowers.
- As a herb, black medick is said to have antibacterial properties and may be effective as a mild laxative. It also assists blood clotting.
- The seeds and leaves are edible and a good source of protein and fibre. It also contains the minerals calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.
- Historians believe Native Americans roasted the seeds and ground them into flour. The seeds can also be sprouted. The foliage can be cooked like spinach. The leaves can be used raw in salads but have quite a bitter taste.
