Barrel clover
Medicago truncatula Gaertn.
Medicago truncatula, commonly known as barrel clover, is a small annual legume native to the Mediterranean region. It is widely used in genomic research due to its genetic tractability and ecological adaptability. The species was first described by Gaertn. in 1790 and belongs to the Fabaceae family.
Description
Medicago truncatula is a member of the genus Medicago in the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to regions including Madeira, Portugal, the Azores, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of the United Kingdom. As an annual plant, it plays a role in ecological systems and has become a model species in plant biology for studying genome structure, symbiosis, and nitrogen fixation. Its small genome and ease of genetic manipulation have made it a key species in agricultural and molecular research.
Other common names
Strong-spined MedickBarrel cloverBarrel Medicbarrel-clovercaltrop medicstrong-spine medickcylindrical bur medicbarrelclover
Distribution
Madeira · Portugal Continental · Santa Maria Island · Desertas · Madeira Island · Porto Santo island · Belgium · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · GB · BY · Azores · Belarus · England · Scotland · Wales · SE · AU · NO · DK · Global · conterminous 48 United States · Algeria · Argentina Northeast · Argentina South · Austria · Baleares
Synonyms
Medicago truncatula subsp. truncatulaMedicago truncatula var. truncatulaMedicago truncataMedicago tentaculataMedicago uncinataMedicago truncatula subsp. longiaculeataMedicago tribuloidesMedicago glabellaMedicago hornemannianaMedicago crassispinaMedica tribuloidesMedicago truncatula var. longiaculeataMedicago truncatula f. laxicyclaMedicago truncatula f. uncinataMedicago tribuloides var. truncatulaMedicago polymorpha var. tribuloidesMedicago tribuloides subsp. truncatulaMedicago tribuloides var. breviaculeataMedicago tribuloides var. cosyrensisMedicago tribuloides var. loneiaculeataMedicago tribuloides var. muricataMedicago tribuloides var. narbonensisMedicago tribuloides var. rectiusculaMedicago tribuloides var. subinermisMedicago tribuloides var. tentaculataMedicago tribuloides var. uncinataMedicago truncatula f. dextrorsaMedicago truncatula f. dextrorsaMedicago truncatula f. sinistrorsaMedicago truncatula f. sinistrorsa
