Medicago L.

16 species naturalized Aust.; all states and territories

Herbs. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets toothed or lobed, with veins ending in a tooth; stipules usually toothed. Flowers in short axillary racemes with small persistent bracts; bracteoles absent. Peduncle often ending in an awn or bristle as long as the terminal flower. Calyx teeth 5, almost equal. Corolla often yellow. Stamens connate with the upper one free. Fruit short, at first straight but finally curved or coiled and exserted from the calyx, often with a row of spines or tubercles on each side of the dorsal suture or keel-like outer margin, 1–many-seeded. Seeds reniform.