Fauna
Plant

Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

Also known as Lucerne, Purple Medic, Chilean Clover, Lucerne Clover

Deep-rooted and resilient, alfalfa produces dense clusters of small purple flowers that attract a wide array of pollinators throughout summer. Specialized root nodules house symbiotic bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into rich soil nutrients, enriching surrounding ground. Farmers have cultivated this forage legume for thousands of years, valuing its high protein content and deep taproot system that survives extreme heat.

FloweringAgriculturalPerennial
Alfalfa reference1 / 7
(c) Andreas Stiller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andreas Stiller · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Atmospheric Nitrogen
Predators
  • Alfalfa Weevil
  • Aphids
  • Grazing Livestock
ThreatsSevere drought, alfalfa weevil infestations, fungal leaf spot
HabitatsAgricultural fields, pastures, meadows, roadsides
Life span4–8 years (up to 20 years)
Classification
  1. OrderFabales
  2. FamilyFabaceae
  3. GenusMedicago
  4. SpeciesMedicago sativa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Flower Identification: Look for dense clusters of purple pea-like blossoms atop branched stems.
  • Pollinator Watching: Observe visits by solitary bees that trigger the explosive stamen mechanism.
  • Soil Inspection: Dig gently around roots to observe small nitrogen-fixing bacterial nodules.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…