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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: A. Masclef | Atlas des plantes de France. 1891 | License: PD Old PD-Art (PD-old)
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Pearson Scott Foresman | Pearson Scott Foresm..., donated to the Wikimedia Foundation | License: PD-ScottForesman
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Pearson Scott Foresman | Pearson Scott Foresm..., donated to the Wikimedia Foundation | License: PD US HHS CDC
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Pearson Scott Foresman | Pearson Scott Foresm..., donated to the Wikimedia Foundation | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Pearson Scott Foresman | Pearson Scott Foresm..., donated to the Wikimedia Foundation | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Victor M. Vicente Se... | Own work | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Victor M. Vicente Se... | Own work | License: PD USDA ARS
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Franz Bley & H. Berdrow | "Botanisches Bilderbuch für Jung und Alt" | License: PD Old
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: C.A.M. Lindman: Bilder ur Nordens Flora | [1] | License: PD Nordens Flora
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: C.A.M. Lindman: Bilder ur Nordens Flora | [1] | License: PD Old
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé | Original book source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, GermanyPermission granted to use under GFDL by Kurt StueberSource: www.biolib.de | License: PD Old
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Juan R. Lascorz | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Juan R. Lascorz | Own work | License: GFDL-1.2
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Juan R. Lascorz | Own work | License: GFDL-1.2
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Juan R. Lascorz | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Sten Porse | Own photo, taken at Beder, Jutland. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Sten Porse | Own photo, taken at Beder, Jutland. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Sten Porse | Own photo, taken at Beder, Jutland. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Sten Porse | Own photo, taken at Beder, Jutland. | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Sten Porse | Own photo, taken at Beder, Jutland. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Sten Porse | Own photo, taken at Beder, Jutland. | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Shizhao | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-2.5,2.0,1.0 CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Shizhao | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Shizhao | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-2.5,2.0,1.0 CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: javier martin | own work release | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Ninjatacoshell | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Original uploader was TeunSpaans at nl.wikipedia | Originally from nl.wikipedia; description page is/was here. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Original uploader was TeunSpaans at nl.wikipedia | Originally from nl.wikipedia; description page is/was here. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Original uploader was TeunSpaans at nl.wikipedia | Originally from nl.wikipedia; description page is/was here. | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc. Original artwork by Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. | Image from the USDA Plants Database. Image is found here. | License: PD US Government
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: This image is not copyrighted and may be freely used for any purpose. Please credit the artist, original publication if applicable, and the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. The following format is suggested and will be appreciated:Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database | http://plants.usda.g... | License: PD USDA NRCS
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Tracey Slotta @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database | Image from the USDA Plants Database. Image is found here. | License: PD USDA NRCS
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: Tracey Slotta @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database | Image from the USDA Plants Database. Image is found here. | License: PD USDA NRCS
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: TwoWings | own work (scanned photography) | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: PMM | Own work | License: PD
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
  • Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) https://www.sagebud.com/alfalfa-medicago-sativa
    Credit: SriMesh | Own work | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 GFDL
MESA.jpg

Medicago Sativa, or more commonly know as Alfalfa, is a forb/herb (a forb/herb is a non-woody plant that is not a grass) with green foliage and purple flowers of the genus Medicago. It has a rapid growth rate and a height of 2 feet at maturity. Its duration is annual which means it grows for one season only. It's active growth period is spring summer fall, blooms during spring and is intolerant of shade. Medicago Sativa or Alfalfa's floral region is North America US Lower 48, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and The Virgin Islands, specifically in the states of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

  • Category: Dicot
  • Genus: Medicago
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Order: Fabales
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Duration: Annual Perennial
  • Growth Habit: Forb/herb
  • Native Status: L48 (I) AK (I) HI (I) PR (I) VI (I) CAN (I)
  • PLANTS Invasive Status: SWSS
  • Active Growth Period: Spring Summer Fall
  • After Harvest Regrowth Rate: Rapid
  • Allelopath: No
  • Bloat: High
  • C:N Ratio: Low
  • Coppice Potential: No
  • Fall Conspicuous: No
  • Fire Resistance: No
  • Flower Color: Purple
  • Flower Conspicuous: Yes
  • Foliage Color: Green
  • Foliage Porosity Summer: Moderate
  • Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous
  • Foliage Texture: Fine
  • Fruit/Seed Color: Brown
  • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No
  • Growth Form: Single Crown
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Height Mature (feet): 2
  • Leaf Retention: No
  • Lifespan: Long
  • Low Growing Grass: No
  • Nitrogen Fixation: High
  • Resprout Ability: No
  • Shape and Orientation: Erect
  • Toxicity: None
  • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: No
  • Adapted to Fine Textured Soils: Yes
  • Adapted to Medium Textured Soils: Yes
  • Anaerobic Tolerance: None
  • CaCO3 Tolerance: High
  • Cold Stratification Required: No
  • Drought Tolerance: High
  • Fertility Requirement: High
  • Fire Tolerance: High
  • Frost Free Days Minimum: 90
  • Hedge Tolerance: None
  • Moisture Use: High
  • pH (Minimum): 6
  • pH (Maximum): 8.5
  • Precipitation (Minimum): 12
  • Precipitation (Maximum): 65
  • Root Depth Minimum (inches): 24
  • Salinity Tolerance: Low
  • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant
  • Temperature Minimum (°F): -43
  • Bloom Period: Spring
  • Commercial Availability: Routinely Available
  • Fruit/Seed Abundance: High
  • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Summer
  • Fruit/Seed Period End: Summer
  • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No
  • Propagated by Bare Root: No
  • Propagated by Bulbs: No
  • Propagated by Container: No
  • Propagated by Corms: No
  • Propagated by Cuttings: No
  • Propagated by Seed: Yes
  • Propagated by Sod: No
  • Propagated by Sprigs: No
  • Propagated by Tubers: No
  • Seed per Pound: 226800
  • Seed Spread Rate: Slow
  • Seedling Vigor: High
  • Small Grain: No
  • Vegetative Spread Rate: Slow





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