[Herbs Index] Botanical Culinary Aromatic Spiritual Medicinal History/Folklore

Alfalfa - Medicago sativa

Wildcrafted at BridesMill

Other Names:
	Lucerne, Purple medick, Snailclover
	Luzerne cultivée
	Luzerne
	Foder-Lucerne, Lucerne
	Luzerne, Saat-Luzerne
	sinimailanen
	Erba-medica
	Blålucern
	Lucerna, Lucerna sierpowata
	Люцерна, люцерна посевная, альфальфа
	alfalfa
	Blålusern

Botanical:

Taxonomy: Family: Fabaceae

Habit: It is well adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions, but does not like it too wet; in fact, it is quite drought-tolerant, needing only about 30 cm of precipitation per year on good soils, 36 cm on poor soils Alfalfa is considered one of the most nutritious forages available, producing more protein per acre than any other crop.
Propagation:
Harvesting:

Composition:

Distribution: Originated in southwestern Asia, and was first cultivated in Iran Considered native in the Mediterranean basin, East to China, North to Sweden; widely cultivated. Naturalized elsewhere. It was introduced into NA in 18th century; and has since become considered an invasive weed in some parts of US.

Uses:

Culinary:

(North American Aboriginal traditions):

Fodder: Used as winter fodder by the Ramah Navajo (Vestal 1952), and horse feed by the Shuswap (Palmer 1975) Likely learned from European settlers.
Spice: The Colville Okanagan placed plants above and below black tree lichen and camas in cooking pits for the sweet flavor. (Turner, Bouchard &. Kennedy 1980)

Spiritual

(European traditions):
(North American Aboriginal traditions)

Cosmetic/Aromatic:

Medicinal

(European traditions):
(North American Aboriginal traditions): Does not appear to have been very widely used medically, only as
- Ear Medicine by the Costanoan - Poultice of heated leaves applied to the ear for earaches.(Bocek 1984)

Other

Used by the Western Keres, in beds as a bed bug repellant. (Swank 1932)

CAUTIONS:

Complete ethnobotanical notes and references available on request

Last edited 23 February 2002