Yellow plants of the pea family can be difficult to distinguish from one another, particularly those with small flowers but this one is different. M arabica has dark spotted trefoil leaves which can usually be seen from a distance, making it straightforward to identify. In the British Isles I find it is often either a shy flowering plant or one where the leaves hide the flowers but the large leaves with heart shaped spots are usually easy to see.

M. arabica is common in the south of England, absent from much of Wales except for sites near the coast (like this one) and only recorded from a few parts of southern scotland and coastal south eastern Ireland where it is scarce.

Medicago arabica Spotted Medick RSPB reserve Conway, 29th March 2005 Previous   Next

Medicago arabica Spotted Medick

RSPB reserve Conway, 29th March 2005

Added on April 1st 2005, updated 20th December 2010