Medicago sativa

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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Botanical Name : Medicago sativa L.
Common Name : Gadab, Vilayati-Ghas, Alfalfa, Bastard Medic, Buffalo Herb, Lucerne, Purple Medic, Lachko
Plant Family : Papilionaceae
Plant Form : Herb
Occurrence (Sectors) : 4
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Van Chetana Kendra

About Medicago sativa Plant :

Habit : An erect, deeply greenhairy herb.
Leaves : Pinnately compound, trifoliate, leaflets oblanceolate, toothed, truncate.
Flowers : Puple coloured with calyx campanulate, corolla exerted, keel straight, stamens 10, diadelphous.
Fruit : Pods forming a double spiral.
Flowering and Fruiting Time : May - October
Significance : This herb is one of the finest fodder plants of the world especially for horses and goats.