Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Fabaceae / Leguminosae ⟩ Medicago sativa subsp. sativa / lucerne

Medicago sativa subsp. sativa L.

lucerne (Fabaceae / Leguminosae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadModerate tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Medicago sativa subsp. sativa was once widely grown for food; now it survives on rough ground across much of England and Wales, and more rarely in Scotland and Ireland.

Whitstable (VC15: East Kent); 2019-06-11

 lucerne / Medicago sativa subsp. sativa: _Medicago sativa_ subsp. _sativa_ was once widely grown for food; now it survives on rough ground across much of England and Wales, and more rarely in Scotland and Ireland.

The flowers of Medicago sativa subsp. sativa are always a darker or lighter purple; those of Medicago sativa nothosubsp. varia can be many colours, including purple.

Isère (38), France; 2017-07-12

 lucerne / Medicago sativa subsp. sativa: The flowers of _Medicago sativa_ subsp. _sativa_ are always a darker or lighter purple; those of _Medicago sativa_ nothosubsp. _varia_ can be many colours, including purple.

The fruiting pods of Medicago sativa subsp. sativa differ from those of the other subspecies in that they coil through at least 2 full turns.

Whitstable (VC15: East Kent); 2019-06-11

 lucerne / Medicago sativa subsp. sativa: The fruiting pods of _Medicago sativa_ subsp. _sativa_ differ from those of the other subspecies in that they coil through at least 2 full turns.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne