Medicago lupulina originated from the Mediterranean Basin, central and southern Europe, North Africa, southern Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. It has been introduced into North, Central and South America, into Australia and elsewhere (Ecocrop, 2017). Black medic is found in moist, open habitats like steppe meadows, along wood edges, in irrigated fields, and sometimes as a weed in fallow fields, gardens, and waste places (Ecocrop, 2017; Sanders et al., 2011). It was first cultivated in the UK in the 17th century, and in Germany in the 19th century (Hanelt et al., 2001). Black medic can grow from sea level up to an altitude of 2900 m in East Africa and up to 3600 m in the Himalayas (Ecocrop, 2017). It grows in places where mean annual temperature is between 5.7°C and 22.5°C and annual rainfall is about 500-800 mm. However, it is tolerant of a much broader annual range of rainfall: 310 -1710 mm (Duke, 1981). Black medic does better on light, well-drained reasonably fertile soils. It is not tolerant of acidic, alkaline, dewy heavy soils. It responds positively to the addition of lime (Duke, 1981). Black medic does particularly well on moist soils, though excessive field moisture early in the season can significantly reduce medic stands. Black medic is sensitive to waterlogging and to salinity (Duke, 1981). It has relatively lower tolerance of drought than other legumes, such as birdfoot trefoil or sainfoin. Black medic cannot stand shade (Ecocrop, 2017; Sanders et al., 2011; Dzyubenko et al., 2008).
