Common name: Lucerne, Alfalfa
Medicago sativa L. APNI* 
Description: Erect to ascending perennial, ± pubescent; branches 30–100 cm long.
Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets obovate to ± lanceolate; terminal leaflets 8–28 mm long, 3–15 mm wide, toothed towards apex, upper surface glabrous, without darker marks; stipules entire, hairy on lower surface.
Inflorescences 20–30-flowered; peduncle more than twice as long as subtending petiole. Calyx teeth longer than tube. Corolla purple; standard 6–12.5 mm long; keel shorter than wings.
Pod cylindrical, 1.5–6.5 mm long, 5–9 mm diam., radial veins many, lateral veins separated from dorsal suture by a flat region, dorsal suture narrow, not grooved, steeply elevated above lateral veins.
Distribution and occurrence: Native of Medit., Asia.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *SFWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *Tas. *S.A.
Text by P. H. Weston
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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