Medick
ORD. Leguminosae. A large genus (above forty species have been described) of hardy herbs, or rarely shrubs, of scarcely any horticultural value. Flowers yellow or violet; peduncles axillary, one, two, or many-flowered. Leaves trifoliolate, stalked; leaflets usually toothed. The only species worth cultivating is M. falcata, which is suitable for banks or slopes, borders, and rough rockwork of all sorts. It thrives in any ordinary soil. Propagated by divisions, or by seeds. The value of M. sativa is wholly agricultural; and, from its great importance in that sphere, it could not be omitted from this work.
M. arborea (tree-like). fl. yellow, in umbellate racemes. May to November. Pods lunate, entire at edge. l., leaflets obovate, light green. Stem arborescent. h. 2ft. to 8ft. South Europe, 1596. (L. B. C. 1379.) M. falcata (sickle-shaped). fl. usually pale yellow, but occasionally violet and green, in short, close, axillary racemes, on stalks longer than the leaves. Summer. l., leaflets oblong, toothed at the apex, entire at base. Stems 2ft. to 4ft. long, prostrate. Europe (Britain), North Asia, and India. A hardy herbaceous perennial. (Sy. En. B. 336.) M. marina (sea-loving). fl. yellow; peduncles many-flowered. June to August. Pods cochleate, roundish, muricate. l., leaflets downy, obovate, entire. h. 1ft. South Europe, 1596. (S. F. G. 770.) M. sativa (cultivated). Purple Medick or Lucern. fl. violet, large, on racemose peduncles. Summer. l., leaflets obovate-oblong, toothed, mucronate. Stems erect, glabrous. h. 2ft. Mediterranean region (naturalised in Britain). Hardy herbaceous perennial. (Sy. En. B. 334.)