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Medicago sativa

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Medicago

alfalfa, lucerne

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect perennial herbs, with a deep taproot and a short–branched superficial caudex.

Stems: Stems 3–10 dm long, sometimes with decumbent branches, pubescent to glabrous.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaflets narrowly obovate to linear–elliptic, (8–)15–35 mm long, (3–)5–15 mm wide. Surfaces pubescent. Leaflet margins entire. Leaflets with veins extending to margins. Petiolate. Stipules narrowly ovate to linear, apex of stipules dentate, adnate to petiole.

Flowers: Flowers 5–40 in racemes, with an explosive tripping mechanism, bracts short. Flowers papilionaceous; bracteoles absent. Calyx campanulate, the tube short, 5-toothed, the teeth subequal. Corolla violet purple, (5–)6–11 mm long, deciduous after anthesis, distinct from staminal tube, keel obtuse, shorter than wings. Stamens 10; upper filament distinct, the other 9 connate into a tube, none of the filaments dilated. Ovary superior, sessile; style subulate, glabrous.

Fruit: Pods curved or spirally twisted in 1–1.5(–3) complete turns; exserted from calyx; reniform; 4–7 mm in diameter; transverse veins forming a distinct but not very prominent transverse or radially elongated network; prickles absent. Seeds several.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 32; 48; 64

Habitat: Dry to mesic; disturbed areas such as pastures and roadsides.

Elevation Range: 3–2,075 m.

Historical Distribution

Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Medicago sativa subsp. sativa

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 778 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:686 (Mi, K, O, L, H); Wagner & Herbst 1995:20 (EM); Wagner et al. 1997:57 (EM); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:8 (WM); Oppenheimer 2003:13 (Mo); Starr & Starr 2008/Meagher s.n. BISH 55642 (Mi†, 1933); Munro 491 BISH (L†, 1929)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Medicago sativa U.H.Campus Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 58 Oahu BISH 1930-11-15
2 Medicago sativa Mamalahoa Hwy. between Saddle Rd. & Waikoloa; roadside through pastureland Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 7160 Hawaii BISH 1987-06-28
3 Medicago sativa Kona Dist.; Kealapuali Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 223 Hawaii BISH 1911-06-21
4 Medicago sativa Puu Laau Road, above Saddle Road Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. Hawaii BISH 1985-06-25
5 Medicago sativa Roadside Hale Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 295 Maui BISH 1982-10-30
6 Medicago sativa unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. BISH
7 Medicago sativa Tantalus Road Preserved_Specimen Forbes, A. Oahu BISH 1930-07-18
8 Medicago sativa Honolulu, U.H. farm wet Preserved_Specimen Inafuku, R. Oahu BISH 1931-03-04
9 Medicago sativa University of Hawaii Poamoho Experimental Farm, Kaukonahua Rd., about 5 km S of Waialua Along edge of row crop plot Preserved_Specimen Not planted, two plants seen as volunteers in area. Faccenda, K. 3085 Oahu BISH 2023-03-29
10 Medicago sativa Pohakuloa, near the State Endangered Species program project Growing along fence in disturbed mamane - naio forest. Preserved_Specimen Healthy, blooming during drought, other vegetation wilted. Flowers blue, ht. 3 ft. Davis, J. 520 Hawaii BISH 1981-06-14
11 Medicago sativa Puu Laau, Mauna Kea Sparsely naturalized in sheep pasture. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19978 Hawaii BISH 1949-08-22
12 Medicago sativa Pohakuloa Growing along fence near State Endangered Species project. Disturbed mamane - naio forest. Drought, other vegetation wilted. Preserved_Specimen Healthy, blooming. Flowers blue, height 3 ft. Davis, J. 520 Hawaii BISH 1981-06-14
13 Medicago sativa W Maui, Lahaina District, Maui County Water Treatment Plant at Mahinahina Growing in lawn. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 79804 Maui BISH 1998-09-09
14 Medicago sativa East Maui, Makawao District, Haleakala Hwy, near Pukalani Growing on side of rd. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb; lvs glossy grn, 2-3cm, in 3's, toothed; flowers purple. Starr, F. 106281 Maui BISH 2001-06-28
15 Medicago sativa Waialae golf course rough Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37165 Oahu BISH 1937-05-18
16 Medicago sativa Behind Pohakuloa State Park Uncommon along main jeep roads. Myoporum-Sophora-grass association. Preserved_Specimen Erect, shrub with spreading branches. Height to 3 feet. Flowers purple. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets serrate towards apex. Nagata, K.M. 1870 Hawaii BISH 1979-05-31
17 Medicago sativa Vicinity of Kapuaiwa coconut grove Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Weed; flowers purple. Oppenheimer, H.L. 110148 Molokai BISH 2001-11-18
18 Medicago sativa Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 491 Lanai BISH 1929-12-31
19 Medicago sativa USDA Plant Materials Center; dryland grass and legume trial; field 7B; row 3; plot 9; HA-4603; source: Northrup King Co.; California. Called Spredor 2 alfalfa Preserved_Specimen Low-growing spreading groundcover 12-15 tall; stems green, flexible; leaflets finely toothed at apex; flrs purple, cloverlike, borne profusely along stem; attracting many bees; seeds brown. Evans, M. 114 Molokai BISH 1990-07-13
20 Medicago sativa Waimanalo, near stables Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 1 m. Flowers purple Nagata, K.M. 2512 Oahu BISH 1982-07-22
21 Medicago sativa East Maui, Baldwin Avenue near Halliimaile Rd. Jct On road shoulder Preserved_Specimen A weed. Hobdy, R.W. 3381 Maui BISH 1991-06-17
22 Medicago sativa Hwy. 50 between Mana and Kekaha near mile 29 Preserved_Specimen Flowers purple. Bushy herb to 1.5', branched from base Flynn, T.W. 801 Kauai BISH 1984-03-13
23 Medicago sativa Castle Junction, planted hillside Preserved_Specimen Herb many-stemmed from base, over 1 m high. Roots thick, branching like ginseng. Flowers purple, pea-like. Arakaki, D. Oahu BISH 2005-07-20
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