Lucerne
Lucerne flowerhead
Close-up of flowers
Seed pods
Trefoil leaves
Purple flowerhead
White-lilac flowerhead
Medicago sativa subsp. Sativa
Fabaceae
Alfalfa
End of May to October
It is found throughout the country but is absent from
parts of the North and the far Southwest..
See the BSBI distribution map for Lucerne
It was grown as a green manure crop from the 1600s
to the 1950s and has been a naturalised escape since
the early 1800s.
It is found in rough grassland, waste land, the edges
of fields and alongside tracks and paths.
It is planted by cycle tracks and footpaths in wildflower
seed mixtures.
Lucerne is a persistent, nitrogen-fixing, perennial herb
growing up to 90cm.
The flowers (up to 12mm across) are in colourful
flowerheads ranging from purple to lilac-white.
The seed pods are like twisted wheels in shape.
Leaves are trefoil.
Lucerne is deep-rooted, which contributes to its
persistence.
Its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen is the main reason
for its use as a green manure crop.
Previous page: Long-headed Poppy
Next page: Lucombe Oak
Lucerne flowerhead
Close-up of flowers
Seed pods
Trefoil leaves
Purple flowerhead
White-lilac flowerhead
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