Vern.: Lasan.

Mostly erect to suberect perennial herbs, 30-60 cm, pubescent to subglabrous. Leaflets 5-20 mm long, 3-10 mm broad, obovate to sublinear, dentate at apex, appressed pubescent; entire or dentate at base. Inflorescence a peduncled raceme, peduncle much longer than petiole. Calyx teeth as long as the tube. Corolla 6-12 mm long, violet to pale lavender. Fruit falcate or in a loose spiral of 11-4 turns, glabrous to appressed pilose, 10-20-seeded.

Fl.Per.: May-September.

Type: Described from Spain and France, Herb. Linn.933/6 (LINN); Herb.Cliff. (BM).

Distribution: Pakistan, India, Central Asia to Europe, Orient and N. Africa; widely cultivated.

Lucerne or alfalfa is widely cultivated as fodder.