Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa, Lucerne)

Alfalfa, Lucerne

PHOTOS OF LUCERNE

Medicago sativa

Photo of Medicago sativa L.

Medicago sativa L. – (Alfalfa, Lucerne)

Perennial plant of the Pea family -Fabaceae- up to 80 cm. Erect stems, covered with a whitish pilosity. Compound leaves, trifoliate, with obovate leaflets, toothed at the apex. Purple or blue flowers, petals till 1 cm, grouped in racemes 4 cm long at the end of petioles shorter than the calyx tube. Very long main root, from 2 to 4 m. The fruit is a pod from 4 to 7 mm long, spineless, spiral-like, spinning from one and a half till three and a half turns.

Widely cultivated as a forage plant and frequently naturalized. It can be found by the side of the paths and roads, sown fields in dry soils of cold and temperate climates.

Medicinal plant. See properties Study of plants

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Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

14 May, 2021

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