Medicago truncatula is a semi prostrate annual with ascending stems to 15-50 cm high. It branches from the base and produces a large number of runners. Its vegetative parts variably covered with hairs. The leaves are alternate, trifoliolate, with sharp serrations on the upper half. Like for other medics, the central leaflet has a longer stalk than those of the other two leaflets. Barrel medic flowers are creamy to yellow and form clusters of 6–12.
Medicago truncatula, the barrelclover,strong-spined medick, barrel medic, or barrel medick, is a small annual legume native to the Mediterranean region that is used in genomic research. It is a low-growing, clover-like plant 10–60 centimetres (3.9–23.6 in) tall with trifoliate leaves. Each leaflet is rounded, 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long, often with a dark spot in the center. The flowers are yellow, produced singly or in a small inflorescence of two to five together; the fruit is a small, spiny pod.
This plant is useful.
