Scientific Nomenclature
Medicago sativa L., 1753
Nomenclature Code: ICN (International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants)
Common Names
English: Alfalfa, Lucerne, Purple medick French: Luzerne cultivée, Luzerne Arabic: البرسيم الحجازي (Bersim hedjazi), الفصفصة (Fasfasa) German: Luzerne, Ewiger Klee, Alfalfa Spanish: Alfalfa, Mielga Italian: Erba medica, Alfalfa Portuguese: Alfafa, Luzerna Chinese: 紫苜蓿 (Zǐ mùxu) Russian: Люцерна посевная (Lyutserna posevnaya)
Botanical Synonyms:
- Medicago sativa subsp. sativa – Medicago sativa var. vulgaris Alef. – Medica sativa (L.) Scop. – Trigonella upendrae H.J.Chowdhery & R.R.Rao
Botanical Description
Morphological characterization of Medicago sativa, the world's most important forage legume, displaying erect growth habit, purple-violet flowers, and characteristic coiled seedless pods
Leaves
Leaves are alternate and trifoliate, with oblong to oblanceolate leaflets measuring 15-30 mm long and 4-10 mm wide. Leaflets are entire to slightly denticulate in the upper third, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, with prominent venation. Stipules are lanceolate, entire to slightly dentate, and semi-clasping.
Flowers
Flowers are purple to violet (rarely white or yellow), papilionaceous, measuring 8-12 mm in length, and arranged in dense racemose inflorescences of 10-35 florets. Peduncles are elongate, exceeding the subtending leaf. The standard petal is longer than the wings and distinctly longer than the keel.
Pod Architectural Diversity
Fruits are spirally coiled, unarmed pods forming 1.5-4 loose coils, 5-8 mm in diameter, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Pods are indehiscent, containing 10-20 seeds. The coils are sinistrose (counterclockwise) and lack spines or tubercles.
