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M. arabica
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Alfalfa (family: Leguminosae), the pea family, is a perennial flowering plant, Medicago sativa, also called lucerne.
Alfalfa is a perennial plant, living from five to twelve years, depending on variety and climate. Growing to a height of 1 metre, it resembles clover with clusters of small purple flowers. It also has a deep root system sometimes stretching to 4.5 meters. This makes it very resiliant, especially to droughts.
The Alfalfa is native to Europe and it widely grown as forage for cattle and because of its ability to fix nitrogen. Its wide cultivation beginning in the seventeenth was an important advance in European agriculture. Its nitrogen-fixing ability and use as animal feed greatly improved agricultural efficiency.
Alfalfa sprouts are commonly used as salad ingredient in the US and Australia. The leading Alfalfa growing states are Wisconsin and California.
A few other species of Medicago are called alfalfa; others are called medick, barrelclover, or burclover.
Alfalfa was also a character in the Our Gang television program.