Medicago minima
Burclover
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Medicago minima (Burclover) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by dense hairs and small, tip-toothed leaflets distinctive.
Burclover is a naturalized annual found in California's Central Valley and Foothills in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces tiny yellow flowers in small clusters of 3 to 6 blooms. Growing with decumbent or ascending stems 10 to 40 centimeters long and covered in dense hairs, it forms low-spreading patches. Its leaves have three small leaflets 4 to 12 millimeters long, typically elliptic or obovate with subtle teeth near the tip. The distinctive fruit develops as a tightly coiled pod with hooked prickles, turning tan to brown when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; dense hairs and small, tip-toothed leaflets distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: to Oregon, south-central United States, sporadic in eastern United States, native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Medicago minima blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Melilotus: Medicago fruits are spirally coiled; Melilotus fruits are small egg-shaped pods with transverse ridges.; vs Trifolium: Medicago flowers fall off; Trifolium flowers persist and enclose the fruit in papery covering.; vs Oxalis: Medicago has pea-shaped flowers and coiled fruits; wood-sorrels (Oxalis) have 5-petaled flowers and upright capsules.; vs Acmispon: Medicago has toothed leaflets and coiled fruits; Acmispon has smooth-edged leaflets and straight pods.; vs Vicia: Medicago has coiled prickly fruits; vetches (Vicia) have flat straight pods and tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medicago minima native to California?
No. Medicago minima is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Medicago minima bloom?
Medicago minima blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Medicago minima belong to?
Medicago minima is in the Fabaceae family, genus Medicago.
What habitat does Medicago minima grow in?
Medicago minima grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.