Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Anodyne; Antibacterial; Antiscorbutic; Aperient; Diuretic; Emetic; Febrifuge; Haemostatic; Hypoglycaemic; Nutritive; Stimulant; Tonic.
Plants for a Future (2016) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Medicago+sativa link

Nomenclature

Family name changed from Papilionaceae to Fabaceae. 05/01/2021. AT
http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/

Other use

Often grown as a green manure and is an excellent source of biomass. A yellow dye is obtained from the seed and the fibre of the plant has been used in making paper. Oil extracted from the seed is used in paints and varnishes.

Toxicity

Raw alfalfa is toxic.
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa
  • Asia-Temperate
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan
  • Europe, Eastern Europe
  • Europe, Middle Europe
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Ireland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe

Medicago sativa L.

Family: FABACEAE
Genus: Medicago
Species: sativa L.
Common names: Lucerne; Alfalfa; Holy Hay
Distribution summary: Europe, N.Africa, Asia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Scrub and waste land
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plane tree bed (P)
Flowering months: June, July
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use, toxic, traditional herbal registration


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