Geographical distribution and soil preferences of genus Medicago species in Greece

Greece having 35 species of Medicago genus is the second country in the world in species number. Their geographical distribution is either broad or very localized. Many species of this genus are found in natural and semi-natural ecosystems, grazed by herbivores. M. sativa ssp. sativa is the most cultivated species used for hey production. On the contrary, in Australia many cultivars of annual Medicago are cultivated. Most species develop in calcareous, limestone and schist parental material, in sandy, sandy loam and loam soil texture and in pH mainly alkali to medium acidic. Many species, like M. lupulina, are adapted to a wide range of conditions and others, as M. marina, are restricted in very specific habitat. The knowledge of soil preferences, needed for Medicago species’ growth, is important for the characteristics of each species, for its possible use in agricultural practice, as well as for the protection of rare and endemic species.