Alfalfa, Lucerne
Medicago sativa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is an erect or spreading legume. It grows to 80 cm high and spreads to 30-80 cm wide. It forms deep roots. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are slender and hairy. The leaves are bluish green. The leaves have 3 leaflets like clover. The leaflets are oval or narrow. They are 3 cm long. The flowers are mauve. They appear in long stalked bunches. The fruit are small sickle shaped pods. The pods are deep brown. There are any named cultivated varieties.

There are about 55 Medicago species.

Where it is found

It will grow in warm and temperate climates. In West Africa it grows along the northern border of the Sahara. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 4-8. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Andes, Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mali, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, North Africa, North America, Norway, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Seeds are often sprouted and the young sprouts eaten raw. Young leaves are eaten cooked. They are often lightly cooked and added to meat dishes and soups. The seeds can be ground into flour for bread. The dried and powdered leaves and flowers can be used as tea.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. There are about 32 million hectares grown world wide.

Edible parts

Seeds, sprouts, leaves, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed sown where they are to grow. Plants can be 10 cm apart. Plants can be cut back to encourage new growth for the young leaves.

The first picking of young leaves can be made 3-4 weeks after sowing.

Its other names

Local names

Hol, Karayonca, Lasan, Lasunghas, Lucerna, Lusan, Luzerne, Mielga, Mu xu, Muk suk, Muxicai, Muxuyazi, Sanfwin, Vilayati-gavat, Vilayati-hullu, Vilayti ghas, Wilayti-gawuth, Yorunchgha

Synonyms

Medicago agropyretorum Vassilcz.; Medicago asiatica Sinskaya; Medicago mesopotamica Vassilcz.; Medicago praesativa Sinskaya; Medicago rivularis Vassilcz.; Medicago sogdiana Vassilcz.; Medicago transoxana Vassilcz.;