MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES OF CLOVER 333 

 SAND LUCERNE 



Sand Lucerne (Medicago media), sometimes 

 designated Medicago falcata, is probably simply a 

 variety of the common alfalfa {Medicago sativa). 

 Some botanists, however, look upon these as two 

 distinct species. Others believe that Medicago 

 sativa, with blossoms ranging from blue to violet 

 purple, and Medicago falcata, with yellow blossoms, 

 are two distinct species, while Medicago media, with 

 blossoms ranging from bluish and purple to lemon 

 yellow, is a hybrid between these. The name Sand 

 Lucerne has doubtless been given to this plant be- 

 cause of the power which it has to grow in sandy 

 soils. ■ 



Sand lucerne is so nearly like common alfalfa 

 in appearance and habits of growth, that until the 

 blossoming season, careless observers cannot dis- 

 tinguish between the plants. (See page 1 14.) Sand 

 lucerne, however, has a more spreading habit of 

 growth than common alfalfa, the seed-pods are less 

 coiled and the seeds are lighter. The root system 

 is strong and the roots are probably more branched 

 than those of ordinary alfalfa. Under Michigan 

 experience, given in Bulletin No. 198 of the Michi- 

 gan Experiment Station, it has shown considerably 

 higher adaptation to light, sandy and gravelly soils 

 than the former. The feeding properties of sand 

 lucerne would not seem to be far different from 

 those of common alfalfa (see page 119), but it is 

 claimed that the former is considerably less liable 

 to produce bloat in cattle and sheep than the latter. 



Sand lucerne is probably native to Europe and 



