Description
Common NameStandardized: alfalfa
Other: lucerne 1Botanical NamePlant Family: FabaceaeSynonymsMedicago agropyretorum Vassilcz., Medicago asiatica Sinskaya , Medicago borealis Grossh. (= subsp. falcata), Medicago caerulea Less. ex Ledeb. , Medicago glutinosa M. Bieb., Medicago glutinosa subsp. praefalcata Sinskaya, Medicago hemicycla Grossh., and subsp. ambigua(Trautv.) Tutin, just to name a few
Overview Alfalfa is well known as a feed plant for livestock yet has had a rich tradition of use as a healing herb as well. Utilized since ancient times for its high nutrient value, Arabs fed it to their horses to increase strength and stamina. In traditional folk medicine, it has been administered as a nutritive tonic and was found to be particularly useful in cases of malnutrition or during convalescence. The dried alfalfa leaf is widely available in herbal shops and health food stores as an herbal tea, tablet, powder or made into a liquid chlorophyll supplement. The seed is often sprouted and eaten in salads and sandwiches.BotanyAlfalfa is a long-lived perennial in the Fabaceae (or is sometimes put in the Papilionaceae) family1 with leguminous flowers which vary in color from purple to yellow, trifoliate clover-like leaves, and a deep penetrating tap root.
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