Medicago sativa
From RoguesGallery
[edit] Alfalfa
Medicago sativa- Moss, Flora of Alberta – Common
- Global Invasive Species Database – No
- NatureServe Rank – Insignificant
- Haber, Upland – Minor
- Haber, Wetland – No
- CWF, Status & Invasive Range – Potential, SK, AB, MB, ON, QC, NF, NB, NS
- Alberta Revegetation Guidelines – No
- The Nature Conservancy – No
- CBCN – Potential
- AB Weed – No
[edit] Remarks
Plantings in disturbed areas spread into adjacent undisturbed prairie. Invasion of grassland can be problematic for cattle producers because even small amounts of fresh Alfalfa can cause bloat, sometimes fatal. A transgenic Roundup Ready variety has been approved in the US, where some seed producers report finding the glyphosate resistance gene in seed of other varieties, but is on hold pending further court-ordered USDA studies of risk and costs of spread of the gene.
Edible: flowers and leaves can be used for tea (which is said to be little better than coloured hot water), and dried leaves can be added to other foods as a supplement. In quantity, can interfere with blood clotting, and cause bloat.
[edit] References
Kershaw, Linda, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies ISBN 1-55105-229-6
"Transgenic Hay Mowed", Science, Volume 316, Number 5826, Issue of 11 May 2007
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