Foothills, montane. Disturbed areas. Spring, summer.
Lower Calico Trail, June 12, 2004.

This is a very common native of Europe and Asia, now often used for roadside reseeding in the Untied States.  It is quite common to find Black Medic in one's flower beds, along trails, and in abandoned lots.  It creeps along the ground and roots in deeply.

"Media" is the country that Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) came from.  "Lupulina" is Latin for "little hop plant".  Both the genus and species were named by Linnaeus in 1753.

Foothills, montane. Disturbed areas. Spring, summer.
Lower Calico Trail, June 12, 2004.