Medicago sativa

ClassificationDicots
FamilyFabaceae
Family (Traditional)Fabaceae
GenusMedicago
Species:Medicago sativa L.
Common NameAlfalfa; Alfalfa Rustica
Growth Habitforb
Plant Notes**
CharacteristicsArmaments: No; Milky Sap: No; Photosynthetic: Yes; Stipules: Yes; Woody Herbaceous: Herbaceous; Duration: Annual; Duration: Perennial; General Ecology: Terrestrial; Growth Habit: forb; Moisture Requirements: Dry-mesic; Moisture Requirements: Mesic; Region of Origin: Asia; Region of Origin: Europe; Reproductive Phenology: April; Reproductive Phenology: May; Reproductive Phenology: June; Leaf Arrangement: alternate; Leaf Complexity: compound; Leaf Dissection: 1; Leaf Fragrance: No; Leaf Persistance: Deciduous; Leaf Petiole Type: petiolate; Leaf Type: broadleaf; Leaf Venation: ternate; Leaflet Margins: ciliate; Leaflet Margins: entire; Leaflet Margins: serrulate; Leaflet Number: 3; Base Flower Color: Purple; Carpel Number/Pistil: 1; Fruit Complexity: Simple; Fruit Dehiscence: No; Fruit Type: Legume; Fruit Wet/Dry: Dry; Hypanthium Present: Yes; Ovary Position: Superior; Overall Flower Symmetry: Zygomorphic; Ovules per Carpel: 10; Ovules per Carpel: 11; Ovules per Carpel: 12; Ovules per Carpel: 13+; Perianth Present: Yes; Petal Fusion: Yes; Petal Number: 5; Pistil Complexity: Simple; Pistil Number: 1; Placentation Type: Parietal; Sepal Number: 5; Sexuality: monoclinous; Sporangium Arrangement: N/A; Stamen Number: 10
C value N/A
StatusNot Native; AGCP (UPL), EMP (UPL) (NWPL); TN[SNA] KY[SNA] (State Rank); GNR (Global Rank)
Specimen(s) View and Download Specimen Details »

** Not applicable or data not available.

Species Distribution Map

This species has been reported in the counties highlighted in the interactive distribution map below. Click on a county to display the its name. Click the question mark icon () to view additional information about the ecoregions shown. In the map legend, there are links to toggle the visibility of the ecoregions and/or their labels. In addition, clicking on an ecoregion name will highlight that region on the map.

  • State Boundaries
  • Counties
  • Counties - Species Present
Ecoregions
  • Southeastern Plains
    • Blackland Prarie
  • Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Ridge and Valley
  • Cumberland Plateau
  • Cumberland Mountains
  • Allegheny Plateau
  • Interior Plateau
    • Bluegrass Region
    • Nashville Basin
    • Pennyroyal Karst Plain
    • Western Highland Rim
    • Eastern Highland Rim

Synonyms

SynonymFull Citation
Medicago tunetana Medicago tunetana (Murb.) Vassilcz.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort.

Counties included on distribution map: Anderson (KY), Barren (KY), Bell (KY), Boyle (KY), Bracken (KY), Breckinridge (KY), Campbell (KY), Carter (KY), Christian (KY), Clinton (KY), Edmonson (KY), Estill (KY), Fayette (KY), Franklin (KY), Fulton (KY), Gallatin (KY), Grant (KY), Grayson (KY), Hardin (KY), Henry (KY), Hopkins (KY), Jackson (KY), Jefferson (KY), Jessamine (KY), Kenton (KY), Lewis (KY), Lincoln (KY), Lyon (KY), McCracken (KY), McCreary (KY), Madison (KY), Meade (KY), Menifee (KY), Mercer (KY), Montgomery (KY), Muhlenberg (KY), Ohio (KY), Oldham (KY), Owen (KY), Pendleton (KY), Pike (KY), Pulaski (KY), Robertson (KY), Rockcastle (KY), Rowan (KY), Russell (KY), Shelby (KY), Spencer (KY), Todd (KY), Trigg (KY), Warren (KY), Blount (TN), Carter (TN), Coffee (TN), Cumberland (TN), Davidson (TN), Dyer (TN), Giles (TN), Hamilton (TN), Henry (TN), Humphreys (TN), Knox (TN), Maury (TN), Meigs (TN), Montgomery (TN), Overton (TN), Polk (TN), Putnam (TN), Rutherford (TN), Scott (TN), Shelby (TN), Stewart (TN), Sumner (TN), Tipton (TN), Unicoi (TN), Van Buren (TN), Washington (TN), Wayne (TN), Weakley (TN), White (TN), Williamson (TN), Wilson (TN)

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: APSC, BEREA, EKY, ETSU, HTTU, KNK, MEM, MTSU, SWMT, TENN, UCHT, UTM, VDB

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1948 - 2002

Accession No. (click for full details) County State Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.
Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used
31234100442332 Rockcastle Kentucky 01 Jul 1987 Ralph L. Thompson
87-1130
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442282 Muhlenberg Kentucky 01 Jun 1993 Landon E. McKinney
5683
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442175 Clinton Kentucky 27 Jun 2000 Mark A. Gorton
327
EKY
Medicago sativa
BEREA014000 Madison Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124428 Carter Kentucky
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124430 Jessamine Kentucky
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124301 Knox Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124295 Carter Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
UCHT016543 Hamilton Tennessee
UCHT
Medicago sativa
APSC0017197 Van Buren Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0095377 Shelby Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017196 Christian Kentucky 26 Jun 1968
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061600 Henry Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061587 Warren Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017204 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0084187 Breckinridge Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
31234100442183 Fulton Kentucky 11 Jul 1962 Elizabeth M. Browne
5892
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442159 Carter Kentucky 01 Jul 1965 Elizabeth M. Browne
10620
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442209 Fulton Kentucky 11 May 1963 Edward T. Browne Jr.
6955
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100859659 Menifee Kentucky 28 Sep 1973 Johnnie B. Varner
7994
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442316 Pulaski Kentucky 01 Jun 1991 John Richard Abbott
377
EKY
Medicago sativa
31973000013067 Pendleton Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
31973000013068 Grant Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124431 Muhlenberg Kentucky
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124308 Scott Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
BEREA024319 Campbell Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
APSC0017208 Wilson Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017206 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017213 Stewart Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0084186 Franklin Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061580 Russell Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
31234100016573 Jessamine Kentucky 10 Oct 1978 Johnnie B. Varner
11855
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442191 Estill Kentucky 29 Jul 1987 Richard G. Guetig
328A
EKY
Medicago sativa
BEREA014005 Rockcastle Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
BEREA013999 Fayette Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
31973000013072 Kenton Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
31973000013073 Bracken Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
31973000013066 Campbell Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124432 Pike Kentucky
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124306 Montgomery Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124296 Coffee Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124300 Knox Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
APSC0017198 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017200 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061603 Spencer Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0097031 Hardin Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
N/A Lincoln Kentucky 01 Sep 1987 Richard G. Guetig
395
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442290 Muhlenberg Kentucky 09 Jul 1962 Elizabeth M. Browne
5788
EKY
Medicago sativa
BEREA014004 Rockcastle Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
BEREA014003 Rockcastle Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
BEREA014002 Pulaski Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124312 Williamson Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124310 Tipton Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124298 Davidson Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
UCHT016542 Hamilton Tennessee
UCHT
Medicago sativa
APSC0061609 Jefferson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0086896 Christian Kentucky 13 Jul 1982
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061586 Warren Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061579 Edmonson Kentucky 11 Jun 1968 Harold Elmore
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061596 Oldham Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061607 Oldham Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017209 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
31234100782729 Jessamine Kentucky
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442167 Carter Kentucky 02 Jul 1965 Elizabeth M. Browne
10672.5
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442225 Jessamine Kentucky 10 Oct 1978 Johnnie B. Varner
11,850
EKY
Medicago sativa
BEREA014006 Trigg Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
ETSU008377 Carter Tennessee
ETSU
Medicago sativa
31973000013069 Gallatin Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124305 Montgomery Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124307 Rutherford Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124299 Dyer Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124294 Blount Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
APSC0076296 Breckinridge Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0102016 Fulton Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061588 Warren Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017215 Stewart Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU004471 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004475 Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
31234100442217 Jackson Kentucky 01 Jul 1982 M. Sharon Laxton
1
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442266 Mercer Kentucky 11 Oct 1993 David D. Taylor
17555
EKY
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124309 Sumner Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124311 Wayne Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124429 Carter Kentucky
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124304 Meigs Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
UCHT016541 Hamilton Tennessee
UCHT
Medicago sativa
APSC0061599 Jefferson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017201 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017210 Todd Kentucky 03 Jun 1969 Lloyd Settle
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061604 Anderson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061602 Jackson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061597 Oldham Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061582 Hopkins Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU004466 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004474 Davidson Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
31234100442241 Lincoln Kentucky 19 Jul 1988 Bruce Hoagland
395
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100716719 Rowan Kentucky 28 Jun 1965 Elizabeth M. Browne
10490
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442274 Montgomery Kentucky 28 Jun 1984 Julian Campbell
504
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442142 Barren Kentucky 05 Sep 1993 Arlene Lapham
207
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442233 Kentucky 24 Jul 1974 William H. Martin
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442340 Rockcastle Kentucky 04 Jul 1986 Ralph L. Thompson
86-377
EKY
Medicago sativa
BEREA014001 Madison Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
31973000013071 Lewis Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
31973000013070 Bracken Kentucky
KNK
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124297 Cumberland Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124303 Maury Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
UCHT016544 Hamilton Tennessee
UCHT
Medicago sativa
HTTU004481 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004468 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
MTSU006230 Rutherford Tennessee 28 Jun 1981 James Bonner
42
MTSU
Medicago sativa
31234100442324 Robertson Kentucky 05 Jul 2002 Timothy J. Weckman
7381
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442308 Pike Kentucky 24 Jun 1965 Elizabeth M. Browne
10438
EKY
Medicago sativa
31234100442258 McCreary Kentucky 10 Aug 1991 Ronald L. Jones
6827a
EKY
Medicago sativa
BEREA013998 Bell Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124313 Williamson Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124314 Wilson Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
TENN-V-0124302 Maury Tennessee
TENN
Medicago sativa
APSC0095378 Kenton Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061595 Owen Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017202 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0084331 Jefferson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017212 Lyon Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU004480 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
MTSU006231 Rutherford Tennessee 07 Jul 1981 Joao M. C. Ribeiro
46
MTSU
Medicago sativa
UTM00622 Weakley Tennessee
UTM
Medicago sativa
APSC0061584 Warren Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017199 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU014937 White Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU014939 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004478 Hamilton Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
SWMT01413 Polk Tennessee 20 May 1948 Polk
SWMT
Medicago sativa
ETSU016993 Carter Tennessee
ETSU
Medicago sativa
ETSU016982 Carter Tennessee
ETSU
Medicago sativa
UTM00623 Weakley Tennessee
UTM
Medicago sativa
UTM00621 Weakley Tennessee
UTM
Medicago sativa
MEM014463 Tipton Tennessee 06 Jul 1968 Sarah J. Warrington
135
MEM
Medicago sativa
APSC0061605 Jefferson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061581 Hopkins Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017214 Trigg Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061598 Meade Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017205 Humphreys Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017195 Todd Kentucky 03 Jun 1969 Lloyd Settle
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0061585 Warren Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU004469 Davidson Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004479 Overton Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
UTM00619 Henry Tennessee
UTM
Medicago sativa
BEREA024255 Boyle Kentucky
BEREA
Medicago sativa
APSC0097032 Hardin Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0108776 Grayson Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0017207 Montgomery Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU004477 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU032154 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004470 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
MTSU006200 Davidson Tennessee 15 May 2001 Angela Cathey
MTSU
Medicago sativa
MTSU006218 Giles Tennessee 11 Apr 1988 David McGavock
MTSU
Medicago sativa
ETSU016996 Tennessee
ETSU
Medicago sativa
ETSU016994 Unicoi Tennessee
ETSU
Medicago sativa
MEM003311 Ohio Kentucky 11 Jul 1963 Elizabeth M. Browne, Edward T. Browne Jr.
7811
MEM
Medicago sativa
APSC0017203 Stewart Tennessee
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0084185 Franklin Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
APSC0082931 Fulton Kentucky
APSC
Medicago sativa
HTTU014938 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004472 Overton Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
HTTU004476 Putnam Tennessee
HTTU
Medicago sativa
MEM009820 Shelby Tennessee 28 Aug 1971 John E. Thompson Jr.
448
MEM
Medicago sativa
MEM007647 McCracken Kentucky 03 Jun 1972 Raymond Athey
1791
MEM
Medicago sativa
BRIT303865 Kenton Kentucky
VDB
Medicago sativa
MTSU006219 Rutherford Tennessee J. B. Peyton
MTSU
Medicago sativa
ETSU016995 Washington Tennessee
ETSU
Medicago sativa
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Plant Photos

Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes
Medicago sativa - Dwayne Estes