THE ALFALFA PLANT 



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clover flowers are in long racemes and the pods are straight. 

 The sweet clover leaflets are arranged like those of alfalfa, 

 and the plants are quite similar till they begin to bloom. 

 Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, differs from the other plants 

 of the genus which are found in America in that it is peren- 

 nial instead of an- 

 nual, and that the 

 flowers are usually 

 purple, while those 

 of the others, the 

 medics or bur 

 clovers, are yellow. 

 The numerous 

 stems which are 

 produced arise 

 from a crown; they 

 grow from 15 to 24 

 inches long, and 

 are erect or spread- 

 ing according to 

 their length and 

 the thickness of 

 the stand. The 

 long tap-root pene- 

 trates to a great 

 depth, with many 

 small branches or 

 feeding roots. The 

 leaflets vary greatly in size, but usually range from ^ to 1 

 inch in length and somewhat less in width. The flowers, 

 which are slightly larger than the individual flowers of red 

 clover, are in short racemes. They are usually violet- 

 purple in color, though sometimes much lighter, inclining 



Fig. 116. Alfalfa plant showing the manner in 

 which a large number of stems are produced from 

 one root or crown. 



