black medick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / LowBotanical / Agricultural / Horticultural
Quick answer
What does “black medick” mean?
A low-growing perennial leguminous plant (Medicago lupulina) with clover-like leaves, small yellow flowers that turn into black seed pods, often found in dry grassland and lawns.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A low-growing perennial leguminous plant (Medicago lupulina) with clover-like leaves, small yellow flowers that turn into black seed pods, often found in dry grassland and lawns.
A common weed and forage plant, sometimes called "hop clover" or "black clover". It is also used in agriculture for soil improvement (green manure) and as a grazing plant in some pasture mixes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in British and European botanical texts. In American contexts, common names like 'hop clover', 'yellow trefoil', or 'black clover' may be equally or more frequent, though 'black medick' is still the standard botanical term.
Connotations
Neutral botanical/agricultural term in both regions. In the UK, it might be more readily recognised by gardeners and naturalists as a common lawn weed.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but higher within specialised botanical, agricultural, or horticultural contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “black medick” in a Sentence
The [field] is full of black medick.[Black medick] thrives in [dry conditions].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black medick” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The black-medick patch was thriving in the poor soil.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in botanical taxonomy, ecology, and agricultural science papers discussing pasture composition, weed flora, or nitrogen-fixing plants.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by gardeners or hobby naturalists when identifying plants.
Technical
Standard term in field guides, botanical keys, agronomy texts, and seed catalogues.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black medick”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black medick”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black medick”
- Misspelling as 'black medic' (more common US spelling) or 'black meddick'. Confusing it with true clovers (Trifolium) or other Medicago species like alfalfa (lucerne).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Like many legumes, it is not typically considered toxic, but it is not a common food plant for humans. It is primarily a forage plant for livestock.
Generally no, as it is considered a broadleaf weed in fine turf. However, it is sometimes included in low-maintenance, drought-tolerant 'meadow' or 'eco-lawn' mixes.
They are in the same family (Fabaceae) but different genera. Black medick (Medicago) has flowers that cluster into a tighter, more oval head and produces distinctive coiled or kidney-shaped black pods. Clover (Trifolium) flowers are often rounder and produce very small pods.
It can be managed by improving lawn density through proper fertilisation and mowing, or by using selective broadleaf herbicides. Hand-weeding is also effective for small infestations.
A low-growing perennial leguminous plant (Medicago lupulina) with clover-like leaves, small yellow flowers that turn into black seed pods, often found in dry grassland and lawns.
Black medick is usually botanical / agricultural / horticultural in register.
Black medick: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmiːdɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmɛdɪk/ or /ˈmiːdɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BLACK seed pods on a MEDICinal-looking (clover-like) plant' – though it's not actually medicinal. It's the black-podded medick.
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you MOST likely to encounter the term 'black medick'?