Medicago sativa L.
Back to List

Medicago sativa

Family: FABACEAE
Genus: Medicago
Species: sativa L.
Common names: Lucerne;Alfalfa;Holy Hay
Distribution summary: Europe, N.Africa, Asia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Scrub and waste land
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plane tree bed (P)
Flowering months: June, July
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use, toxic, traditional herbal registration
British Native: Yes

Additional Notes

Anodyne; Antibacterial; Antiscorbutic; Aperient; Diuretic; Emetic; Febrifuge; Haemostatic; Hypoglycaemic; Nutritive; Stimulant; Tonic.

Plants for a Future (2016) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Medicago+sativa

Often grown as a green manure and is an excellent source of biomass. A yellow dye is obtained from the seed and the fibre of the plant has been used in making paper. Oil extracted from the seed is used in paints and varnishes.

Family name changed from Papilionaceae to Fabaceae. 05/01/2021. AT

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/

Raw alfalfa is toxic.

Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Europe, Eastern Europe

Europe, Middle Europe

Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark

Europe, Northern Europe, Ireland

Europe, Northern Europe, Norway

Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden

Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain

Europe, Southeastern Europe

Europe, Southwestern Europe

Africa, Northern Africa

Asia-Temperate

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan

Previous Next

We use cookies to give you the best experience and to help improve our website.

By clicking the Accept button, you agree to us doing so. Find out more

Accept