Alfalfa

Medicago sativa {{{latin_name}}}	Alfalfa, Lucerne, Purple Medic, Trefoil
	Habit:  ? Height: ⇕  ? Width: ⇔ Lifespan: ⌛ perennial Origin: ✈  ? Poisonous: ☠	Exposure: ☼  ? Water: ◍  ? Features: ✓ Hardiness: ☃ Bloom: ❀ USDA Zones:  ? Sunset Zones:
	[[{{{domain}}}]] > [[{{{superregnum}}}]] > Plantae > [[{{{subregnum}}}]] > [[{{{superdivisio}}}]] > [[{{{superphylum}}}]] > Magnoliophyta > [[{{{phylum}}}]] > [[{{{subdivisio}}}]] > [[{{{subphylum}}}]] > [[{{{infraphylum}}}]] > [[{{{microphylum}}}]] > [[{{{nanophylum}}}]] > [[{{{superclassis}}}]] > Magnoliopsida > [[{{{subclassis}}}]] > [[{{{infraclassis}}}]] > [[{{{superordo}}}]] > Fabales > [[{{{subordo}}}]] > [[{{{infraordo}}}]] > [[{{{superfamilia}}}]] > Fabaceae > [[{{{subfamilia}}}]] > [[{{{supertribus}}}]] > Trifolieae > [[{{{subtribus}}}]] > Medicago {{{subgenus}}} {{{sectio}}} {{{series}}} sativa {{{subspecies}}} var. {{{cultivar}}}

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Alfalfa, lucerne (Medicago sativa, Linn.). A deep-rooted perennial forage plant of the Leguminosae;. The plant grows one to four feet high, bears pinnate leaves with three ovate-oblong toothed leaflets, and small head-like racemes of purple clover-shaped flowers. It is native to Europe. In the arid parts of the United States it is the staple hay and forage plant, and it is also grown to a considerable extent in the East. Two to six mowings may be made, each year from established meadows. Fifteen to thirty pounds of seed are sown to the acre; and the seed is preferably sown alone, without another crop. Alfalfa should not be pastured the first year. In two or three years it becomes thoroughly established and productive, and it should continue for many years. June-grass often runs it out in a cool, moist climate. Alfalfa often becomes a weed in waste places. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

Subspecies^wp:
M. sativa subsp. ambigua
M. sativa subsp. microcarpa
M. sativa subsp. sativa
M. sativa subsp. varia

Gallery

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  photo 1

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  thumbnail|240px|right|Small square bales of alfalfa

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  thumbnail|240px|right|Cylindrical bales of alfalfa

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  thumbnail|240px|right|Alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata, a pollinator on alfalfa flower

References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Alfalfa. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Alfalfa QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)