Determined according to the botanical keys provided by (Tutin et al., 1968) as the hybrid between M. falcata and M. sativa (M. xvaria Martyn). In The Euro+Med PlantBase (source: ILDIS World Database of Legumes, 2010) this taxon is accepted as Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia (Martyn) Arcang.
Lifeform: Perennial plant. Hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.
Distribution: Native from Caucasus to Central Asia and Iran; introduced elsewhere according to the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew). Also native to parts of Europe and Turkey according to The Euro+Med PlantBase (source: ILDIS World Database of Legumes, 2010). In the Osogovo region it is found in the vicinity of village of Beli, where the distribution range of the two parental forms overlaps.
Habitat: Found in open habitats- dry grassland/ hill pastures, alongside roads.
Flowering period: Late spring – summer: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG.
Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowering stems. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowering stems. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – flowers. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – pods. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – pods. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – pods. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – pods. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – lower part of plant – stems with leaves. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – lower part of plant – stems with leaves. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – stem with leaves. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – leaf. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – abaxial side of leaf. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 18.06.2022. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – stem with developing inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia – inflorescence. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 30.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Tutin, T. G. 1968. Medicago L. In Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A. (eds.). Flora Europaea. Volume 2: Rosaceae to Umbelliferae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 153–157.
