Black Medick - Medicago lupulina
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Just harvested the first of black medick from a local field. It's a habitat where honeybee hives are placed and the field isn't sprayed. It's on high ground and the water comes from a spring.
Black Medick, Medicago lupulina, is also commonly known as nonesuch, trefoil, or hop clover. It is native to Asia but has spread throughout North America and grows in sunny, disturbed, alkaline soil and acts as a good nitrogen fixer. It may be annual, or perennial, depending on your microclimate. It is edible raw or cooked but is somewhat bitter.
In herbalism it is traditionally used as an antibacterial and styptic wound dressing. Studies have shown that it is active against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as some fungal infections.
It is used as a very mild laxative due to its high fiber and mildly stimulating properties. It has been used to treat respiratory infections due its expectorant, anti-spasmodic, and antiseptic actions. It contains mucilage, which is used to loosen phlegm. It is thought that the anti-spasmodic qualities help with asthma and respiratory tightness.