Medicago rigidula
Tifton medick, tifton burclover, Tifton Burclover
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Medicago rigidula (Tifton medick) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by limited to PR region, large flowers and glandular fruits.
Tifton medick is a naturalized annual found in the Peninsular Ranges at elevations below 400 meters in disturbed and agricultural areas. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small yellow flowers about 6 to 7 millimeters long in clusters of 1 to 6 blooms. Growing with prostrate to ascending hairy stems 10 to 70 centimeters long, it spreads in a low, sprawling habit. Its leaves feature wide obovate to obcordate leaflets 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, with entire or slightly toothed edges near the tip. The distinctive fruits are disk-like, cylindrical to spherical, with 3 to 7 loosely coiled turns, covered in light yellow to dark gray prickly surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; limited to PR region, large flowers and glandular fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed and agricultural areas
Elevation: < 400 m
Outside California: native to Europe, northern Africa
Bloom period
Medicago rigidula blooms Mar-Apr.
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 rigidula native to California?
No. Medicago rigidula is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Medicago rigidula bloom?
Medicago rigidula blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Medicago rigidula belong to?
Medicago rigidula is in the Fabaceae family, genus Medicago.
What habitat does Medicago rigidula grow in?
Medicago rigidula grows in Uncommon. Disturbed and agricultural 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.