Medicago polymorpha
Toothed medic Μηδική

Fabaceae - pea family Dicot.
Medicago polymorpha
Toothed medic Μηδική
Fabaceae - pea family Dicot.
Just one of the 15 species of medic present on Skopelos, Medicago polymorpha is found on road verges, fields, olive groves and the upper reaches of sandy beaches. Like all the medics, it has small yellow pea flowers and is most easily recognised by its intriguing fruits, which are spirals with distinct teeth.
The plants of the Medicago genus, like all members of the Fabaceae, the pea and bean family, have nodules on the roots containing bacteria which take up nitrogen from the atmosphere and create nitrogenous compounds which are available to the plants to form proteins. The plants can be turned into the soil as a green fertiliser.