'Orb' Medick

Thanks...I'll do some delving into the seed from the forage angle.

I know they say it's 'not readily available' but they obviously got their hands on some for the tests....

Shucks! Thanks man :)
If i ever find out how to get seed I'll remember you for sure. Had a quick check online...these guys might be worth a try.......http://msucares.com/crops/forages/legumes/cool/buttonclover.html

Well, keep shouting on Project Noah...you're a great addition here...hopefully you will become a Ranger soon.

If you ever find a source for the seeds of this plant, I would be most interested in obtaining some.

Thanks Ashish and for the reply ceherzog. Sorry to take so long on getting back. Yes, I've heard of Horticultural Therapy and am a great believer in its power. The workshop I led was a member of Thrive, the main Hort. Therapy charity here in the UK. They're having a new headquarters garden built in Battersea, soon I believe. A mental health focussed charity called Mind also use Hort. Therapy with great success and have a fine project near Kensington. It's a field I've thought about going into some day but at the moment I feel like shouting about botanics and biodiversity for a while.

Hmmm... Nice stuff... from Fabaceae...
Never herd about Genus Medicago...!!

Craig, Well, yes, the carnivorous plants are always appealing....but tropical fruit (just did a lesson on Starfruit...the kids love them) is very enticing....any food plants that you can ultimately cook or taste are wildly popular, especially for middle schoolers. I worked with developmentally disabled students before this job and now work with many students with learning disabilities and also children with autism. Horticulture is a great venue for people with disabilities. Have you heard of the field of Horticultural Therapy? I have been very active with this group.

Updated with ID. Med. distribution but seems like it's found its way into some States of the US too

Oops, the perils of late night misreading. Sorry about the promotion! I'd be really interested in hearing more about how you're turning kids on to plants. I've never worked directly with kids but I ran a hort. workshop with people with learning dissabilities for a couple of years before Kew. I've been compiling a list of plants that I think would be cool to show kids - something I think all Botanic Gardens need to engage in as much as possible. It's mainly carnivorous and things that move or smell pretty terrible! Of course, I think once you've got a chance to teach the magic of growing something, you're half way there. Anyway, would love to hear about your experience some time.

Dr. Dodson was great to work for...I still have dinner with him on occasion...
Dr. D was Director of the Gardens, I was Director of Horticulture...and I do love my present vocation..nothing like turning kids on to plants.

Who knows, maybe you'll end up at Marie Selby!

Yes, it's definitely in Fabaceae.

Can be a Fabaceae plant...

I would also love some seeds of this! Unfortunately, this was the only plant we saw in two weeks and as we were told it was a bit of a rarity I left the pods well alone (it helped that none looked fully mature:)) I have the name in my notes but I think they went into the back of a large storage unit a few months ago!

I'm a horticulturalist but I'm very into pollination biology, especially of orchids and hope to raise the funds to do some studies on certain spp. in the future. The study I did on Ophrys speculum was part of the Ecology field trip to Andalucia with the Kew Diploma of Horticulture and Reading University.

I see you were Director of Marie Selby. That's very cool indeed, as is your current occupation! Having just finished at Kew, I'm looking to get into a Botanic Garden somewhere (preferably one with a decent orchid collection) and get going growing some amazing things to show to people. It must've been great to work with Dr. Calloway Dodson, he's a bit of a legend in the Orchid world.

Very interesting spot!

Oh yes, I see that now...I would love to have some seeds of this.
I think you do pollination biology on orchids, right? Are you familiar with Dr. Calloway Dodson? (Orchid Flowers: Their Pollination and Evolution. van der Pijl & Dodson) I worked with him for many years at Selby Gardens in Florida.

This is the seed pod. Unfortunately the leaves let the side down a bit! They're fairly typical pinnate vetchy things.

wow! Does the leaf spiral?...I love it!