Common Name: Snail Clover

General Information

Medicago scutellata is a herbaceous perennial plant with semi-erect stems; it usually grows 15 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is used as a green manure and soil stabilizer. Forms have developed in Japan that are harvested for their edible seedpods[].
Medicago scutellata is a widespread species with a stable population and no apparent major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Mediterranean region - Spain to Greece and Turkey and south to Israel and Jordon; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia

Habitat

It is found primarily in meadows and wood margins, though it also grows in fallow fields as a weed of cultivated crops, on plains, roadsides, dry hillsides and in coastal regions[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Medicago scutellata is a plant of the Mediterranean region. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 26°c, but can tolerate 9 - 30°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 900mm, but tolerates 350 - 1,200mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. It thrives on most soil types, particularly heavy and loamy soils, and succeeding where fertility is poor[, ]. The plant is susceptible to water logging as it is native to well drained soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Seedpods - raw[]. A sweet flavour, they are used as a garnish in salads[]. (this is specific to naturalized populations in Japan where the sweet tasting seed pods are utilized)

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used as a companion plant for soil improvement and for providing protection from wind erosion[].

Other Uses

A potential gene donor for the improvement of cultivated Alfalfa, (Medicago sativa) and Barrel Clover (Medicago truncatula[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in containers in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle, and plant out in late spring or early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring.