Medicago sativaL. Purple medick

Medicago sativaL. - Purple medick

Scientific Description:

Perennial herb, stems procumbent, ascending or erect, 15−70 cm, adpressed pilose or subglabrous. Stipules entire or incised in lower part. Leaflets 4−18 × 2−10 mm, adpressed-pubescent, those of lower leaves obovate, those of upper leaves longer, cuneate-oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, serrate above, with the terminal tooth usually longer than the lateral teeth. Peduncle much longer than petiole, raceme l−3(−4) × as long as broad, 8−30-flowered. Flowers 6−12 mm, dusky violet or pale lavender (very rarely white). Calyx teeth subulate, 1−2 × as long as conical green tube. Fruit in an open spiral of 2−4 loose coils, 5−9 mm diam, reticulate-nerved, adpressed-pilose or rarely glabrous. Seeds 10−20 and 1−2.5 mm long, yellow or brown.

subsp. sativa

Fruits 5−9 mm diam.; seeds 2.2−2.5 mm; flowers 6−12 mm.

Flowering time: April−September.

Habitat: Steppe, rocky and grassy slopes, thickets, meadows, sand dunes, fields (cultivated and fallow), roadsides, s.l.−2500 m.

Reference:

Heyn CC & Davis PH (1970). Medicago sativa L., In: Davis PH (ed.) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 3: 488.

Public Description:

Medicago sativa subsp. sativa, known as “purple medick” or “alfalfa”, grows naturally in temperate regions. It is a perennial herb with dusky violet or pale lavander flowers, and grows up to 70 cm in length. It blooms between April and September and is found in steppe, rocky and grassy slopes, thickets, meadows, sand dunes, cultivated and fallow fields, and roadsides.

This plant, which has been grown as an animal forage since the Ancient Greeks and Romans, is now being cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries. Due to its high protein content and high-level digestible fiber, it is used as feed for high-producing dairy cows, beef cattle, horses, sheep and goats. This plant contains saponin-like substances. Excessive consumption of leaves may cause the breakdown of red blood cells.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa /, Accessed date: 12.02.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). http:/www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Medicago+sativa /, Accessed date: 12.02.2016.

Keskin M (2012). Medicago L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 473–477.