Medicago lupulina L.

Procumbent or ascending, annual or short-lived perennial herb; stems moderately to densely hairy in upper part. Lvs moderately to densely hairy on petiole and undersurface of leaflets, almost glabrous or sparsely hairy above; petioles c. 2–15–(40) mm long; leaflets narrowly to broadly obovate, acute to emarginate, mucronate, obtuse at base, finely or irregularly serrate in upper 1/2, uniform in colour, c. 4–20 mm long; terminal petiolule (1)–2–3–(7) mm long; lateral petiolules < 1 mm long; stipules narrowly to broadly ovate, acuminate, entire or irregularly serrate. Infl. with (5)–10-numerous fls; peduncles ± glabrous to moderately hairy, much > petioles; pedicels > calyx tube. Calyx hairy; calyx teeth narrowly triangular, usually with linear apex, > tube. Corolla yellow, 2–3 mm long. Pod moderately hairy, but ± glabrous and black when mature, reniform, coiled in ± 1 complete turn without a hole in the centre, distinctly reticulately veined but otherwise smooth, 2–3 mm diam., 1-seeded; seeds yellow to brown, c. 2 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–May.