Alfalfa/lucerne was one of the first forage crops to be domesticated, and is currently the most important forage crop globally. Although it was domesticated to feed animals, it is also used around the world medicinally and as a vegetable. Additionally, it is used in revegetation and restoration projects, in dyes, paints, and varnishes, and in manufacturing paper.
Alfalfa is a perennial, herbaceous plant, usually erect but sometimes spreading. It is many-branched and grows 8 to 35 inches tall. Its tiny purple to white flowers are grouped into small, showy clusters. Each flower contains both male and female parts and is insect-pollinated.
Although alfalfa is an agricultural plant, it can also be found in abandoned fields and yards, on rangelands and degraded prairies and meadows, along roads and railroads, and in foothills, montane, and openings. It can be found on a variety of soils, but favors rich, well-drained, loamy soil with loose topsoil. It does not like water-logged sites or acid soils.
Alfalfa is a USA-NPN calibration plant species. Calibration species have broad distributions and are ecologically or economically important. The NPN integrates observations on calibration species to get "the big picture" of plant responses to climate across the nation. In addition, this species is an allergen. Observations on its phenology will provide valuable information to benefit people with allergies and the public health community.
If drought seems to be the cause of leaf senescence for a plant, please make a comment to that effect.
Do you see...?
Initial growth New growth of the plant is visible, either from above-ground buds with green tips, or new green or white shoots breaking through the soil surface. Growth is considered "initial" on each bud or shoot until the first leaf has fully unfolded. More...
Leaves One or more live fully unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. For seedlings, consider only true leaves and do not count the one or two small, round leaves (cotyledons) that are found on the stem almost immediately after the seedling emerges. Do not include dried or dead leaves. More...
Flowers One or more fresh flowers or flower heads (inflorescences) are visible on the plant. Flower heads include many small flowers that usually do not open all at once. Do not include wilted or dried flowers that remain on the plant, or heads whose flowers have all wilted or dried.
How many fresh flowers or flower heads are present?
Less than 3
3 to 10
More than 10
Open flowers One or more open fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Flowers are considered "open" when the reproductive parts (male stamens or female pistils) are visible between unfolded or open flower parts. Do not include wilted or dried flowers that remain on the plant. For Medicago sativa, reproductive parts may be difficult to see. A flower may be considered open when the petals separate from one another.
How many fresh flowers are open?
Pollen release One or more flowers on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown.
How many flowers release pollen?
Fruits One or more fresh fruits are visible on the plant.
How many fresh fruits are present?
Ripe fruits One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant.
How many fruits are ripe?
Recent fruit drop One or more fresh mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind.
How many mature fruits have dropped?
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