| Medicago | |
|---|---|
| |
| Medicago littoralis | |
| |
| Medicago granadensis bur | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Clade: | Inverted repeat-lacking clade |
| Tribe: | Trifolieae |
| Genus: | Medicago L. (1753) |
| Type species | |
| Medicago sativa | |
| Species | |
|
87–105; see text. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Medicago is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover, in the legume family (Fabaceae). It contains at least 87 species and is distributed mainly around the Mediterranean Basin,[2][3] and extending across temperate Eurasia and sub-Saharan Africa.[1] The best-known member of the genus is alfalfa (M. sativa), an important forage crop,[4] and the genus name is based on the Latin name for that plant, medica, from Greek: μηδική (πόα) Median (grass).[5] Most members of the genus are low, creeping herbs, resembling clover, but with burs (hence the common name). However, alfalfa grows to a height of 1 meter, and tree medick (M. arborea) is a shrub. Members of the genus are known to produce bioactive compounds such as medicarpin (a flavonoid) and medicagenic acid (a triterpenoid saponin).[3] Chromosome numbers in Medicago range from 2n = 14 to 48.[6]
The species Medicago truncatula is a model legume[7] due to its relatively small stature, small genome (450–500 Mbp), short generation time (about 3 months), and ability to reproduce both by outcrossing and selfing.
Comprehensive descriptions of the genus are Lesinš and Lesinš 1979[8] and Small and Jomphe 1989.[9] Major collections are SARDI (Australia),[10] USDA-GRIN (United States),[11] ICARDA (Syria),[12] and INRA (France).[13]
- ^ a b Medicago L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ Steele KP, Ickert-Bond SM, Zarre S, Wojciechowski MF (2010). "Phylogeny and character evolution in Medicago (Leguminosae): Evidence from analyses of plastid trnK/matK and nuclear GA3ox1 sequences". Am J Bot. 97 (7): 1142–1155. doi:10.3732/ajb.1000009. PMID 21616866.
- ^ a b Gholami A, De Geyter N, Pollier J, Goormachtig S, Goossens A (2014). "Natural product biosynthesis in Medicago species". Natural Product Reports. 31 (3): 356–380. doi:10.1039/C3NP70104B. PMID 24481477.
- ^ "Alfalfa Crop Germplasm Committee Report, 2000". Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed., 2005), p. 1054, s.v. medick.
- ^ Rosato M, Galián JA, Rosselló JA (2012). "Amplification, contraction and genomic spread of a satellite DNA family (E180) in Medicago (Fabaceae) and allied genera". Ann Bot. 109 (4): 773–82. doi:10.1093/aob/mcr309. PMC 3286279. PMID 22186276.
- ^ "Medicago truncatula". Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ Lesinš KA, Lesinš I (1979). Genus Medicago (Leguminosae): A Taxogenetic Study. The Hague, The Netherlands: Dr. W. Junk B. V. Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 978-90-6193-598-8.
- ^ Small E, Jomphe M (1989). "A Synopsis of the Genus Medicago (Leguminosae)". Can J Bot. 67 (11): 3260–94. Bibcode:1989CaJB...67.3260S. doi:10.1139/b89-405.
- ^ "SARDI". Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "GRIN National Genetic Resources Program". Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "ICARDA Sustainable Agriculture for the Dry Areas". Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "INRA". Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2008.