Family: Fabaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability, and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Naturalized in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and widely naturalized elsewhere
- Often regarded as an escaped, weedy plant of crops and disturbed natural areas, but often considered innocuous or a desirable fodder plant
- Other Medicago species are invasive
- Spiny pods on plants in Hawaii, but spineless cultivars exist
- Possibly allelopathic
- May cause photosensitisation in horses, occasionally red gut in sheep, and bloat in cattle, but generally a desired, palatable plant
- Tolerates shade, although most often occurs in high light environments
- Tolerates many soil types (not limited by substrate)
- N-fixing, and may modify soil chemistry
- Reproduces by seeds
- Self-fertile
- Able to reach maturity in one growing season
- Seeds dispersed by external attachment of pods to animals, internally by livestock and waterfowl, as a crop and wool contaminant, by water and both intentionally and accidentally by people
- Seeds long lived (5+ years), and can form a persistent seed bank
- Tolerates mowing and grazing
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite reports of weediness, also regarded as a desirable pasture plant
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Sensitive to herbicides, which may provide effective control if removal is desired
