Spotted Medick, Spotted Burclover or Heart Clover (Medicago arabica) on Coppermill Field. This is an interesting flowering plant because it forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium medicae which is capable of fixing nitrogen. It's good for the soil and not bad for the atmosphere either. Click to see complete plant.
Many members of the pea family (leguminosae) fix nitrogen by forming a symbiosis with bacteria. Hence clovers, vetches, tares etc being included in mixes for fodder, and as a green manure or fallow crop in an organic system. (Photo: marshWalker, 30/May/2014-04/June/2014)
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