Medicago tornata, (L.) Miller

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 155

20. M. tornata (L.) Miller , Gard. Diet. ed. 8, no. 3 (1768).

More or less patent-pubescent annual up to 60 cm. Leaflets obovate, cuneate, dentate near the apex; stipules lanceolate, dentate to laciniate near the base. Racemes 1- to 10-flowered. Corolla 5-7 mm. Legume 5-8 mm in diameter, in a spiral of l |- 8 turns, lenticular to cylindrical, flat at both ends, glabrous, spiny or not; transverse veins scarcely anastomosing except near the marginal vein, where they form a submarginal vein from which the spines, if present, arise; spines conical, usually short, but up to i as long as the diameter of the legume, patent, straight o r uncinate. W. Mediterranean region extending to Portugal. C o Hs It Lu Sa Si.