Alfalfa

<p>Alfalfa  (<i>Medicago sativa</i>), also called lucerne, is a <a href="/facts/Perennial_plant/MQ3NvAUW">perennial</a> flowering plant in the <a href="/facts/Legume/x6s6gVHY">legume</a> family <a href="/facts/Fabaceae/uxuHNdAr">Fabaceae</a>. It is cultivated as an important <a href="/facts/Forage/nmHrMYc2">forage</a> crop in many countries around the world. It is used for <a href="/facts/Grazing/nxF45P2c">grazing</a>, <a href="/facts/Hay/eKrHnGhl">hay</a>, and <a href="/facts/Silage/t9pgturS">silage</a>, as well as a <a href="/facts/Green_manure/nAfeeD1z">green manure</a> and <a href="/facts/Cover_crop/NwHmsTQb">cover crop</a>. The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is more commonly used in the <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a>, <a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq">Australia</a>, and <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a>. The plant superficially resembles <a href="/facts/Clover/bKr90Vct">clover</a> (a cousin in the same family), especially while young, when <a href="/facts/Glossary_of_leaf_morphology/GfSyEn7C">trifoliate</a> leaves comprising round <a href="/facts/Leaflet_(botany)/LkIdafp2">leaflets</a> predominate. Later in maturity, leaflets are elongated. It has <a href="/facts/Raceme/lXl4udlJ">clusters</a> of small purple flowers followed by fruits spiralled in two to three turns containing 10–20 seeds. Alfalfa is native to warmer <a href="/facts/Temperate_climate/6WPypCzC">temperate climates</a>. It has been cultivated as <a href="/facts/Livestock/Quhv6GvP">livestock</a> <a href="/facts/Fodder/b4Hw0Lq0">fodder</a> since at least the era of the <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greece/PTVBrWXq">ancient Greeks</a> and <a href="/facts/Ancient_Rome/cGqIuxPd">Romans</a>.
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Alfalfa open-in-new

Alfalfa