Medicago sativa Alfalfa (Leguminosae)

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Medicago sativa
Alfalfa
(1 Page of 5)

The Medicago sativa plant species is found in Europe - Mediterranean. More or less naturalized in Britain[17]. It is a member of the Leguminosae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Alfalfa.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Medicago sativa
Common Name:  Alfalfa
Family:  Leguminosae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The plant contains saponin-like substances[222]. Eating large quantities of the leaves may cause the breakdown of red blood cells[222]. However, although they are potentially harmful, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will normally remove most of them from the food. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. Alfalfa sprouts (and especially the seeds) contain canavanine. Recent reports suggest that ingestion of this substance can cause the recurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (an ulcerous disease of the skin) in patients where the disease had become dormant[222].

Mature Height:  1   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Waste ground, avoiding acid soils[17].

General Uses: Often grown as a green manure. It is a bit slow to establish in its first year so is generally only recommended for positions where it can remain for 2 or more years. Alfalfa is very vigorous from its second year, producing a huge bulk of material that can be cut down 2 or 3 times during the season[20, 87]. Plants are very deep rooting, descending 6 metres or more into the soil[200], and are able to fix large quantities of atmospheric nitrogen, this makes them one of the very best green manures. Plants are rather intolerant of competition from grass etc, however, and there is the drawback of needing to leave them in the soil for more than 2 years to fully achieve their potential[K]. A drying oil is obtained from the seed, it is used in paints etc[46, 57, 61]. The plant can be grown as a low dividing hedge in the vegetable garden[52, 206].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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