Hop alfalfa. Hop alfalfa (Medicago lupulina, Leguminosae)

Hoppy alfalfa, Latin Medicago lupulina, legume family, Latin Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Determination formula

Genus: All leaves are compound, of three leaflets - grass - at the base of the petiole there are stipules, but they are much smaller than the leaves and differ in shape from the leaves - the petals of the corolla are free to the base, not fused; middle leaflet on a longer petiole - flowers in short capitate inflorescences, not pendulous - yellow flowers, ovary raised from the base, pressed to the flag, no coumarin (like sweet clover) smell - view: yellow flowers - beans without thorns ( look at the photo of the fruit: there are not thorns, but small pubescence, maybe bristles. The spikes look different: cross your hands with your fingers. These are the thorns, something like this will appear on the edges of the fruit. Just for fun, look at the plantarium, I don’t have such a photo yet ) - reniform beans ( in my opinion, an unreliable sign, I was guided not by the shape of the fruit, but by the shape of the leaves ), leaflets obovate.

Description

This small grass is constantly found underfoot both in nature and within the city. Something familiar and familiar for a long time, like the knotweed. And I have accumulated photographs for 3 years, but I still haven’t gotten around to it. Finally, I found the strength and a new species appeared in my atlas. What confused me was the many similar species, and I was afraid of messing something up again. Let's see which plants can confuse us. Golden clover is very similar; like all clovers, it differs in that all its leaves (not leaves!) sit on identical short petioles. Among the alfalfas there is alfalfa, which is distinguished by its blue-violet flowers. Apparently, there will be other types of alfalfa, but I don’t have such photos yet.

Flowers

The flowers are yellow, in short capitate or ovate inflorescences, not pendulous. From the height of human growth, it seems that the flowers are the size of a pea. Blooms from May to September.

I won’t say anything about the ovary and free petals; the flowers are very small, nothing is visible, and this is not critical for identifying the flower. You can check the absence of a coumarin (like sweet clover) odor yourself. The inflorescence consists of 10-30 crowded flowers, the corolla is 1-3 mm long, the calyx is broadly bell-shaped, 1-2 mm, with thin sepals. Let's figure out the sizes. The finger in the photo is a good means of measurement, the nail is 15-16 mm wide and 16-17 mm long. From here we draw conclusions: the width of the nearest inflorescence in the right photograph is about 5 mm, the height is approximately a little more than 1 cm.

Leaves

The leaves are alternate, the petioles are furrowed, pubescent with soft hairs.

All leaves are compound, consisting of three leaflets. The petiole of the middle leaf is noticeably longer. The leaves are obovate or rhombic, pubescent on both sides, serrated at the apex, with a notch.

The stipules are semi-arrow-shaped, toothed, much smaller than the leaves and differ from them in shape.

Stem

Apical shoot. A very good photograph, you can see a lot of things on it: the leaflets below are pubescent with appressed soft hairs, the stem is faceted and pubescent, the stipule differs in shape and size from the leaflets, the middle leaflet sits on a longer petiole, the shape of the leaflet is rhombic.

Stems numerous, recumbent. The plant is spread out on the ground, not rising above 20 cm.

Stem. In fact, it doesn’t grow like that (vertically upward), but for the general idea that’s it.

The stem is pubescent, grooved.

Fruit

The beans are kidney-shaped, 2-3 mm long. I would like to dwell on the shape of the beans: are they kidney-shaped? At first, when identifying the plant, this perplexed me. The fact is that in the binary tree of the determinant at the corresponding stage there are two points: 1 - kidney-shaped beans or 2 - sickle-shaped or straight beans. With straight beans everything is clear, but what is the difference between sickle and kidney-shaped beans? In my opinion, the only difference is that the ends of a sickle-shaped bean are spread apart and the result is a semicircle or sickle. And in a kidney-shaped bean, the ends close together or even overlap. And the general outline of the figure actually somewhat resembles a kidney. I would say that it is a little far-fetched, but oh well, I hope my thoughts will help you correctly identify the plant.

Beans without thorns, fluffy with small hairs. There are protruding veins along the beans, 3 pcs. clearly visible.

The peduncle is also pubescent. Look at the row of beans farthest (relative to the viewer), the cups are visible at the base of the beans. And although it is not very visible, the main idea - the calyx is much smaller than the bean - is visible to the naked eye.

Habitat

It grows in meadows, along roads, along the banks of reservoirs, growing in a continuous carpet.

Application

Fodder crop.

More photos:

Alfalfa hop(lat. Medicago lupulina) - usually an annual herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Lucerne ( Medicago) family Legumes ( Fabaceae). It has a number of distinctive morphological characteristics, due to which it is classified as a section (or subgenus) Lupularia as part of the genus.

Description

Taxonomy

Valid description (diagnosis) Medicago lupulina was published in a book Species plantarum(1753) by Carl Linnaeus: Medicago spicis ovatibus, leguminibus reniformibus monospermis, caule procumbente- “alfalfa with ovoid ears, kidney-shaped single-seeded beans, and erect stem.” The species is described “from the meadows of Europe.”

Synonyms

• Lupularia parviflora Opiz, 1852,nom. superfl.
• Lupulina aurata Noulet, 1837,nom. nov.
• Medica lupulina (L.) Scop. , 1772
• Medicago apennina J.Woods, 1850
• Medicago cupaniana Guss. , 1844
• Medicago lupulina subsp. jalasii Rothm. , 1963
• Medicago lupulina var. unguiculata Ser. , 1825
• Medicago mniocarpa Wallr. ex Ser., 1825,nom. inval.
• Medicago reniformis Dulac, 1867
• Medicago stipularis Wallr., 1840
• Medicago willdenowii Mérat, 1812
• Medicula lupulina (L.) Medik. , 1787
• Melilotus lupulina (L.) Trautv. , 1841,nom. illeg.
• Trigonella mniocarpa Wallr. ex Ser., 1825, nom. inval.
• Trifolium lupulina (L.) Savi, 1798

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Notes

Literature

• Kultiasov, I. M., Grigorieva, N. M. Hoppy alfalfa // Biological flora of the Moscow region. - M.: Moscow State University Publishing House, 1978. - T. 4. - P. 107-113. - 232 s.
• Kurbatsky, V. I. 21. Medicago L. - Alfalfa // Flora of Siberia. - Novosibirsk: Science, 1994. - T. 9. - P. 197-198. - 280 s. - ISBN 5-02-030500-8.

An excerpt characterizing Alfalfa hop-like

Count Ilya Andreich resigned from the leadership because this position was associated with too much expense. But things didn’t improve for him. Often Natasha and Nikolai saw secret, restless negotiations between their parents and heard talk about the sale of a rich, ancestral Rostov house and a house near Moscow. Without a leader there was no need to have such a large reception, and Otradnensky life was conducted more quietly than in previous years; but the huge house and outbuildings were still full of people, and more people still sat down at the table. All these were people who had settled into the house, almost members of the family, or those who, it seemed, had to live in the count’s house. These were Dimmler - a musician with his wife, Yogel - a dance teacher with his family, the old lady Belova, who lived in the house, and many others: Petya's teachers, the young ladies' former governess and simply people who were better or more profitable to live with the count than at home. There was not such a big visit as before, but the course of life was the same, without which the count and countess could not imagine life. There was the same hunting, even increased by Nikolai, the same 50 horses and 15 coachmen in the stable, the same expensive gifts on name days, and ceremonial dinners for the entire district; the same count whists and bostons, for which he, throwing out cards to everyone, allowed himself to be beaten by hundreds every day by his neighbors, who looked at the right to form Count Ilya Andreich’s game as the most profitable lease.
The Count, as if in a huge snare, walked about his affairs, trying not to believe that he was entangled and with each step becoming more and more entangled and feeling unable either to break the nets that entangled him or to carefully, patiently begin to unravel them. The Countess felt with a loving heart that her children were going bankrupt, that the Count was not to blame, that he could not be different from what he was, that he himself was suffering (although he hid it) from the consciousness of his own and his children’s ruin, and she was looking for means to help the cause. From her female point of view, there was only one remedy - Nikolai's marriage to a rich bride. She felt that this was the last hope, and that if Nikolai refused the match she had found for him, she would have to say goodbye forever to the opportunity to improve matters. This party was Julie Karagina, the daughter of a beautiful, virtuous mother and father, known to the Rostovs from childhood, and now a rich bride on the occasion of the death of the last of her brothers.

Kuznetsova E.I., Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor,

Stepanova G.V., Ph.D., head of laboratory

ECOLOGICAL AND Ameliorative IMPORTANCE OF ALLFALFA IN THE NON-CHERNOZEM ZONE OF THE RF

In long-term field experiments from 2001 to 2006. on sod-podzolic soil, the effectiveness of cultivating the promising legume alfalfa as a fallow-boring crop capable of preserving and increasing soil fertility and the yield of winter crops, with high preservation of plants during overwintering, has been proven.

KEY WORDS: FERTILITY, MELIORATION, SOIL, ALFALFAL HOPS, green manure, vapor-retaining crops, nitrogen fixation

Increasing and maintaining the fertility of soddy-podzolic soils in Russia is a national task. The study and introduction into production of new legumes is relevant. One of the promising crops is alfalfa. Scientific research of this type of alfalfa in Russia is carried out at the All-Russian Institute of Plant Growing (VIR), at the All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Microbiology, and the All-Russian Research Institute of Feed. V.R. Williams, on the monastic lands of the Moscow region, abroad - in the USA, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania. Relatively productive varieties have been created: Renata (Poland), Nordol (Denmark), Virgo Pajbjerg, Repus Vereduna (Germany), George (USA) and others. In Russia, since 1999, the Mira variety, created at the All-Russian Research Institute of Feeds named after. V.R. Williams.

Hop alfalfa cannot be considered a completely new crop for agricultural production. In the 19th century in Russia it was considered one of the best pasture plants. In Europe, the annual variety of alfalfa was introduced into cultivation in the mid-17th century. It was cultivated in those areas where the cultivation of meadow clover or alfalfa was difficult due to climatic and other reasons, for example, on calcareous soil. Moreover, seeds for sowing were imported from the black soil provinces of Russia.

Wild alfalfa is found in different climatic zones and is represented by mesophytic and xerophytic ecotypes. Shedistributed throughout Europe (except the Arctic), Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East, as well as in Armenia, Kurdistan, Iran, the Indo-Himalayas, Central and Asia Minor, Abyssinia, and North Africa. Secondary distribution centers are located in North America and Australia. Hoppy alfalfa grows in various environmental conditions, mainly on light soils with a pH of 5.5 - 7.5. Grows on slopes, embankments along railway tracks, highways and field roads, on pebbles, in river valleys, meadows and pastures. In the mountains it rises to 2000-2500 m above sea level. It is well eaten by all types of animals, is characterized by high quality feed, is resistant to trampling and grazing, has a long growing season (until frost), and increases soil fertility.

Hop alfalfa (Medicago lupulina L) - the most widespread polymorphic species of the genusMedicago, belongs to the subgenusLupularia Grossh., includes three varieties: 1 - vulgaris Koch., 2 - Willdenowii B ö nn ., having a one-year life cycle and 3 - perennansGrossh., is represented by bi- and perennial forms of winter and intermedial type.M. lupulina - obligate self-pollinator. Under natural conditions, diploid and tetraploid forms are found (2 n = 16, 32)

In varieties vulgaris And perennansbeans, stems and leaves are completely bare or covered with sparse inarticulate hairs; in the varietyWilldenowii - abundantly covered with segmented glandular hairs, sometimes arachnoid-hairy pubescence is developed.

All varieties of alfalfa have wide, ovate or rhombic hop leaves, jagged at the top. The stems are thin, erect or creeping. The inflorescences are short, 5-15 mm long, dense, ovate or oblong-ovate in shape. The flowers are small (corolla length 1-3 mm), yellow in color. The beans are kidney-shaped, single-seeded, non-dehiscent, black, less often gray in color when ripe; Bob length 2-3 mm, width about 1 mm. The seeds are yellow, olive or light brown in color, seed hardness is 60-99%. Weight of 1000 seeds per variety vulgaris- 0.8-1.2 g, y perennans- 1.5-1.8 g.

Low-growing forms of annual alfalfa belonging to the varietyvulgaris, have erect or semi-erect highly branched stems forming branches III - IV order. The height of the stems is 20-45 cm; bushiness is very low or low (4-30 stems per plant).

The advantages of annual alfalfa are early maturity (blooms 30-60 days after germination), stable seed productivity. Disadvantages are low dry matter yield (0.5-2.0 t/ha), relatively weak foliage (40-65%), low protein content (15-17%), often severe pubescence of stems, leaves, and fruits.

Biennial and perennial forms of the varietyperennansin the year of sowing they form a rosette 8-12 cm high with numerous (20-60 or more) shoots I order with shortened internodes. Under favorable weather conditions, intensive growth (5-9 cm per day) of shoots begins after 30-50 days I order, inflorescences and branches are formed on them II, sometimes III order. Shoot length I about 45-80 cm, sometimes 100 cm or more. Flowering occurs 50-75 days after emergence. The flowering and fruiting period is extended. At the same time, the shoot contains ripened seeds in the lower part and buds and flowers in the upper part. Under unfavorable weather conditions (lack of heat and moisture), alfalfa plants overwinter in the rosette phase, and generative shoots are formed in the second year of life. In case of prolonged drought, plants can remain in the rosette phase for several years.

The variety has the highest nutritional meritsperennansGrossh, belonging to the intermedial type. It is used on pastures as a legume component in complex grass mixtures. Combines well with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), red clover ( Trifolium pratense), creeping ( T. repens), hybrid ( T. hybridum), horned lamb (Lotus corniculatus), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and other types of meadow grasses. On loose, well-moistened soil forms thickets, sometimes displacing even meadow clover from the grass stand. It is characterized by good regrowth after grazing, tender green mass, good palatability, high protein content (superior to alfalfa), vitamins, microelements, resistance to trampling, long growing season, increases soil fertility, and is an excellent ground cover plant. The yield of hay can reach 4 t/ha or more, seeds 200-450 kg/ha. In wet years, the yield of forage mass increases to 5-6 t/ha, in dry years it drops to 0.5-1 t/ha. Hoppy alfalfa is cold-resistant and frost-resistant in spring and autumn. Active vegetation begins at an average daily air temperature of +5° C and lasts in the Non-Black Earth zone for 130-160 days. The low durability on pastures is compensated by good self-seeding, which constantly renews the grass stand.

Hoppy alfalfa is superior to many leguminous grasses in terms of feed advantages. Nutrient content depends on the variety, plant age, developmental phase, plant organ and year of research. In the first year of life during the flowering phase of intermedial alfalfa, the protein content is 22.3-23.1%, fat 3.2-3.5%, fiber 21.7-22.9%, BEV 41.2-41. 8%, ash 9.8-10.4%, phosphorus 0.30-0.32%, calcium 1.01-1.12%, potassium 2.76-2.82%, iron 487-495 mg/kg , magnesium 2.8-3.4 mg/kg. The feed mass of alfalfa in the second year of life in the same phase contains up to 25% protein and 3.6% fat. Leaf cover - 72-75%.

During the flowering phase, an annual variety of spring-type alfalfa (vulgaris Koch) contains on average 15% protein, 3.0% fat, 30% fiber, 29% BEV, 6% ash.

The above properties of hop alfalfa indicate its high economic value and the need for its introduction into cultivation. At the All-Russian Research Institute of Feeds named after. V.R. Williams began breeding work with this type of alfalfa in 1991, which is carried out in two directions: the creation of forage-type varieties for pasture use and green manure-type varieties for use in grain crop rotations.

The main traits to be selected are: yield of fodder and seeds, frost resistance, winter hardiness, disease resistance, increased nitrogen-fixing ability.

Selection methods: polyploidy, mutagenesis, gene transformation, coordinated selection (creation and selection of complementary genotypes of nodule bacteria (Sinorhizobium meliloti) and alfalfa plants characterized by increased symbiotic nitrogen fixation), assessment and selection on selective backgrounds. Due to the fact that alfalfa is an obligate self-pollinator (pollination occurs in a closed flower), as well as the small size of the flowers, methods of hybridization have not been developed.

Alfalfa-specific hop strainsSinorhizobium melilotiisolated from soil and nodules on the roots of this type of alfalfa in various regions of the former USSR. An increase in the nitrogen-fixing ability of nodule bacteria was achieved by passaging them through alfalfa plants.

Wild growing forms were used as starting material.Medicago lupulina of different ecological and geographical origin and four varieties from European countries.

When creating a green manure variety, the original samples of alfalfa and new breeding numbers were sown together with winter grains on August 25 – September 1. The sowing rate of purified alfalfa seeds is 5 kg/ha. By the time the average daily air temperature passed through + 5°C, alfalfa plants formed 3-5 true leaves and overwintered well.

Wide range Medicago lupulina is ensured due to the ecotypic diversity of this species. In the period from 1992 to 2003, more than 160 collection samples of alfalfa were studied, it turned out that 42 of them belong to the variety – vulgaris, 130 – k perennans.

Spring annual formsvulgarisdiffer in early maturity. The duration of the period from germination to the beginning of flowering is 30-50 days, until the seeds begin to ripen - 50-80 days. As a rule, according to morphological characteristics, they are close to xerophytes and have small and medium-sized leaves with medium to strong pubescence, the weight of 1000 seeds is 0.8-1.2 g. Plants do not form rosettes.

Under conditions of sufficient moisture in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001, the average dry matter yield of spring ecotypes was 2.3-4.4 t/ha, seed yield -800-1100 kg/ha. The protein content in the flowering phase is 19.7 – 20.1%.

In 1992, 1995, 1997 and 2002, hot and dry weather caused a decrease in seed productivity in most numbers to 10-170 kg/ha, dry matter of forage mass - to 0.3-0.5 t/ha. High resistance to drought wild samples from the Stavropol Territory (16,383), Azerbaijan (22,049), Kazakhstan (25,734), and the Pamirs (173,173) were exhibited. Their seed yield reached 280-470 kg/ha, dry matter - 2.0-3.0 t/ha.

Specimens of the intermedial type belonging to the variety perennans, are typical mesophytes, have large leaves with weak pubescence. After the emergence of seedlings, a rosette is formed and only after 55-70 days are generative shoots formed. Based on morphological characteristics and early maturity, they can be divided into two groups. Early ripening samples from regions with a continental climate and late ripening ones from regions with a marine climate. When sowing in early spring, the first seeds form a high yield of mature seeds in 130-145 days. The biological seed yield reaches 800-1800 kg/ha. The dry matter yield is 4.4-5.6 t/ha, the protein content in the flowering phase is 20.8-22.2%, winter hardiness is 65-85%. This group includes wild-growing samples from the Moscow, Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod regions. Based on the original samples of this group, using mutagenesis, polyploidy and selection on selective backgrounds, selection numbers were created that can be used as an intermediate crop and green manure in grain crop rotation.

Ecotypes from areas with a humid maritime climate (Denmark, England, Germany, Poland) have very large, slightly pubescent or pubescent leaves; in the year of sowing they form a rosette of 15-40 shoots; with early spring sowing - single generative shoots. The grass stand is very dense and the dry matter yield in the first year of life under favorable weather conditions reached 4.9-5.8 t/ha, the protein content was 22.6-24.0%. 1 kg of dry matter in the flowering phase contained 171.3 g of amino acids, including 84.4 g of essential amino acids. The seeds did not ripen in the year of sowing. Winter hardiness 15-75%. In the second year of life, the plants grew and bloomed, depending on weather conditions, from May 15 to June 10. Full seed ripening was observed from June 1-30. Seed yield during the years of research ranged from 400 to 1330 kg/ha. These forms are valuable for creating high-yielding grassland varieties.

Promising grassland-type breeding material was evaluated in a competitive sowing variety trial in 1994. One cutting was obtained in the year of sowing. The high density of the grass stand, consisting of 85-90% alfalfa, resulted in the production of 6.5-7.9 t/ha of dry matter. In the dry year of 1995, for two cuttings we received 6.4-8.2 t/ha of dry matter of the grass mixture, which contained 1.7-6.5 t/ha of alfalfa according to different selection numbers tested. The dry mass yield of the best numbers VIK 26 (2n = 32) and VIK 256 (2n = 16) was 5.4 and 6.5 t/ha, which is 57 and 87% higher than the average value for the seven tested numbers. The two best numbers were distinguished by increased winter hardiness - 80 and 87%, while the winter hardiness of the remaining numbers was in the range of 4-25%. Over two years of using grass mixtures with VIC 26 and VIC 256, we obtained 13.1 and 15.3 t/ha of dry matter, which contained 7.8-13.6 t/ha of alfalfa. The total protein collection over two years was 1.7 and 3.2 t/ha. Breeding number VIC 256 (later the Mira variety) was obtained using mutagenesis from a local wild-growing sample found on the banks of the Moscow-Volga canal in the Dmitrovsky district of the Moscow region. VIC 26 was created as a result of treatment with colchicine (polyploidization) of the same wild-growing sample.

It should be noted that hop alfalfa is capable of growing in one place for a long time due to self-seeding. This is ensured by the fact that the first fruits with beans are formed almost at the soil level; when mowing, they remain below the cut level, and when grazing, some of them are trampled into the soil and germinate. During the season, 4-10 g/m remains on the field 2 mature beans.

Conducted at the All-Russian Research Institute of Feeds named after. V.R. Williams scientific research in 2002 - 2006, on sod-podzolic heavy loamy soil in fallow-grain crop rotation (total area of ​​experiment 2 hectares, 10 variants of fallow crops) showed that sowing winter wheat Mironovskaya 808 with alfalfa hops The Mira variety provides an increase in grain yield by 20-45%. Without overseeding alfalfa, the grain yield was 3.8-4.0 t/ha, and with overseeding – 4.8-5.5 t/ha. After harvesting wheat grain and mowing the straw, the alfalfa harvest provided 1.3-2.4 t/ha of dry matter, which contained from 48 to 99 kg/ha of nitrogen. In addition, roots and crop residues contained another 95-119 kg/ha of nitrogen. When plowing this entire mass, 175-275 kg/ha of nitrogen entered the soil, with about 70% being symbiotic nitrogen obtained from the atmosphere. The safety of winter crops after alfalfa is 35-42% higher than after clover fallow.

In parallel lysimetric studies, it was proven that soil moisture in alfalfa crops is 20 - 38% higher than in variants with clover and vetch - oats, and the leaching of magnesium and calcium is significantly reduced, which is important for maintaining soil fertility in the Non-Black Earth zone of Russia.

Bibliography:

1. Dokhman G.I. Experimental phytocenotic basis for the study of cereal-legume habitats. M.: Nauka, 1979. – 198 p.

2. Larin I.V. and others. Forage plants of natural hayfields and pastures of the USSR. – L.: VASKHNIL, 1937. – P. 545-547

3. Stepanova G.V. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of grassland varieties of alfalfa // Sat. "Legumes in modern agriculture." - Novgorod. 1998. pp.51-53.

4. Kuznetsova E.I. Fertility of sod-podzolic soils. MSHA. 2006.

5. Kuznetsova E.I. , Grammaticati O.G. Fine-dispersed sprinkling in the Non-Black Earth Region of Russia. MSHA. 2005.

Hop alfalfa ( Medicago lupulina)
Family Legumes ( Leguminosae / Fabaceae)

Lauwersmeer National Park, Groningen Province, The Netherlands, July 2007

Hop alfalfa ( Medicago lupulina)
Family Legumes ( Leguminosae)

The genus alfalfa includes about 50 species, many of which can be reliably distinguished only by their fruits. The greatest diversity of alfalfa is observed in Mediterranean countries. The most famous species of the genus, without a doubt, is alfalfa ( Medicago sativa), widely cultivated as a valuable forage plant. Of the wild species in temperate Europe, sickle alfalfa () ( M. falcata) and hop alfalfa.
Hoppy alfalfa is a small annual or perennial herbaceous plant 10-30 cm high. The stems are numerous, recumbent or ascending. The leaves are trifoliate, up to 2 cm long. Their leaves are obovate, with a small point at the apex. The flowers are small (2-3 mm), yellow, collected in 10-50 groups in spherical or ovoid inflorescences located on a long peduncle. The corolla quickly falls off. The fruits are kidney-shaped, glabrous or pubescent, non-thorny.
Hoppy alfalfa can be confused with another member of the legume family - doubtful clover () ( Trifolium dubium), small yellow flowers of which are also collected in capitate inflorescences. The best distinguishing feature of these two species is the structure of the fruit. In addition, clover leaves lack a point at the top.
This species is found throughout most of Europe and Western Siberia, and as an alien plant it has spread throughout almost the entire Northern Hemisphere and Australia. Hoppy alfalfa grows in meadows and pastures, along the edges of roads, and in weedy places. Sometimes grown as a fodder plant.

- a biennial or annual herbaceous plant that has a tap root that is capable of penetrating the soil to a depth of 40 cm; there are forms that develop for 3 or more years, that is, perennial.

Stems spread along the soil or ascending, 10-50 cm long, densely leafy, branched. The leaves are trifoliate with a short petiole, the leaflets are almost rhombic or obovate with a notch at the apex and a wedge-shaped base. The inflorescences are dense, capitate, 10-30 flowered, emerging from the leaf axils, oblong-ovate, on buds 2-3 mm long. Flowers with a yellow corolla, small, 1-3 mm long. The fruit is a kidney-shaped bean, 2-3 mm long and approximately 1 mm in diameter, indehiscent, single-seeded, almost black when ripe. The seeds are brown or yellow. blooms throughout the summer.

widespread in Ukraine, all regions of Russia, the Caucasus, and the republics of Central Asia. It grows in meadow steppes, meadows, clearings, among bushes, and in fields as a weed. In the mountains it rises above sea level to 2300 meters.

In folk medicine, the herb is used, which is harvested during flowering. A decoction of alfalfa is used in folk medicine in Belarus for douching for trichomonas colpitis.

The aerial part of alfalfa plants contains saponins, tannins, calcium salts, and estrogenic substances. Carotene, 140-305 mg/% ascorbic acid, and vitamin D were found in the leaves. The herb is used in folk medicine of Transbaikalia and Tibet as a wound-healing, hemostatic and emollient. The powder, which is obtained from dry alfalfa grass, can be sprinkled on cuts and bleeding wounds. The herb extract is characterized by a hemostatic effect because it accelerates blood clotting due to an increase in prothrombin in it.

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