Determined according to the botanical keys provided in The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia (Micevski, 2001) and Flora Europaea (Tutin et al., 1968).
Lifeform: Perennial. Hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.
Distribution: The species is commonly used as forage crop. Native from France to Balkan Peninsula, Turkey to Central Asia, Northwest Africa and widely introduced elsewhere according to the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew). According to Tutin et al. (1968) Medicago sativa subsp. sativa is naturalized throughout the range of the species, origin uncertain.
Habitat: Found in open habitats- grassland, bushland, alongside roads. Common forage crop.
Flowering period: Late spring – summer (MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG).
Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – habit. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – upper part of stem with inflorescences. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – upper part of stem with inflorescences. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – stem with cauline leaves. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – inflorescences. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – inflorescences. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – inflorescences. “Mala” River near artificial lake “Gradche”, 02.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – flowering stems with inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – pods. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – pods. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
