Medicago sativa L.

Spice Flower Fruits In the field

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Medicago

Catalan common name: Alfalç.

Spanish common name: Alfalfa.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated species. Cultivated specie and subespontaneous.

Characteristics: Alfalfa is a forage crop cultivated in irrigated fields. It can be spotted by its bluish flowers, a colour trait that is not very common at all in the flowers of this genus. The fruit is in the form of helix shaped coils, typical of this genus.