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Magnoliopsida
Medica
EOL Text
Chile Central
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Pablo Gutierrez, IABIN |
Source | No source database. |
Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) introduced
(Information is restricted to bees; bees suck nectar or collect pollen; observations are from Krombein et al.)
Bees (long-tongued)
Megachilidae (Trypetini): Heriades carinatum
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Nomiinae): Nomia nortoni nortoni, Nomia triangulifera; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes kincaidii, Colletes latitarsis, Colletes mandibularis; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena accepta, Andena helianthi, Andrena imitatrix imitatrix; Andrenidae (Panurginae): Calliopsis andreniformis, Calliopsis nebraskensis
- Hilty, J. Editor. 2015. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. illinoiswildflowers.info, version (09/2015)
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2015 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects//plants/alfalfa.htm |
Semente
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | CPQBA/UNICAMP, IABIN |
Source | No source database. |
More info for the terms: cover, density, marsh
Dabbling ducks (mallards, gadwalls, blue-winged teals, northern pintail,
northern shovelers, American green-winged teals, and American wigeons)
will use haylands for nesting, although this is not the most preferred
nesting cover. Over 80 percent of nests found in haylands are found in
alfalfa, which is highly attractive to mallards and gadwalls after it
has reached half of its mature height and density [16,64,73].
Sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens prefer early seral vegetation,
such as retired crop and haylands that contain alfalfa, for courtship
grounds [63,83]. Areas in the cropland adjustment program (CAP), in
which seeded grasses and legumes (particularly alfalfa) are left for
wildlife habitat, are used for food and cover by a variety of birds,
including pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie chicken,
American bitterns, marsh hawks, short-eared owls, and many passerine
birds [30].
Regional cover values of alfalfa for selected wildlife species are as
follows [27]:
UT CO WY MT ND
Elk ---- poor ---- poor ----
Mule deer poor ---- poor ---- good
White-tailed deer ---- poor good good ----
Antelope poor fair poor good good
Upland game birds good good good good good
Waterfowl fair ---- good ---- good
Small nongame birds good good good good good
Small mammals good good good good good
Distribution: Pakistan, India, Central Asia to Europe, Orient and N. Africa; widely cultivated.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200012215 |
The nectar of the flowers attracts various kinds of bees, as well as some small butterflies and skippers. However, the bees are more effective pollinators. Many kinds of insects eat the foliage, buds, and flowers, including the caterpillars of several species of Blue and Sulfur butterflies, as well as the caterpillars of many moth species (see the Butterfly & Moth Table). Other insect feeders include several species of grasshoppers (see Grasshopper Table), several leaf beetles, several stink bugs, Adelphocoris lineolatus (Alfalfa Plant Bug), Lygus elisus (Pale Legume Bug), Lygus hesperus (Legume Bug), Hypera punctata (Clover Leaf Weevil), Philaenus spumaria (Meadow Spittlebug), and Acyrthosiphon pisum (Pea Aphid). The seeds are eaten by upland gamebirds and small rodents, including the Bobwhite, Ring-Necked Pheasant, and White-Footed Mouse. The foliage is eaten by the Meadow Vole, Pocket Gopher, Cottontail Rabbit, White-Tailed Deer, groundhogs, and livestock. The foliage can be mildly poisonous if it is eaten in large quantities.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/alfalfa.htm |
More info for the terms: density, fresh, selection
Alfalfa is considered one of the most nutritious forages available,
producing more protein per hectare than any other crop. It is
considered an important source of vitamin A, and of 10 other vitamins as
well [12,23,50,60]. White and Wight [122] found that pasture yield had
an inverse relationship to forage quality: the higher the density, the
lower the crude protein (CP) and dry matter digestibility. Phenological
stage accounts for 97 percent of the variation in neutral detergent
fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility: nutritive value decreased
with maturity [103]. There have been numerous studies on the nutritive
value of fresh alfalfa, as hay, pelleted, and ensiled.
A selection of values for some characteristics is as follows [9,38,110]:
CP(%) available P(%) dry matter acid detergent
STAGE CP(%) digestibility(%) fiber(%)
_____________________________________________________________________
vegetative 32.8 31.8 0.44 84 18.1
flower 29.2 28 0.38 79 21.7
mature 25.6 24.2 0.32 74 25.3
regrowth 22.0 20.2 0.26 69 28.9 [38]
Digestible protein (%) for selected species is as follows [82]:
dried vegetative early bloom
________________________________________
Cattle 12 15.1
Sheep 12 15.3
Goats 12.4 14.6
Horses 11.9 14
Rabbits 11.6 13.6
Further detailed information is available in The Atlas of Nutritional
Data on United States and Canadian feeds [82].
Regional food values for selected wildlife species are as follows [27]:
UT CO WY MT ND
Elk good good good good good
Mule deer good good good good good
White-tailed deer ---- good good good good
Antelope good good good good good
Upland game birds good ---- good ---- fair
Waterfowl good ---- good ---- good
Small non-game birds good ---- good good fair
Small mammals good ---- good good fair
Probably a native of the Mediterranean region and W. Asia, now introduced and naturalised widely in the temperate regions of the world.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=200012215 |
Plant / resting place / on
Acyrthosiphon pisum may be found on live Medicago sativa
Remarks: season: winter
Foodplant / miner
larva of Agromyza frontella mines leaf of Medicago sativa
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Apion filirostre feeds within bud of Medicago sativa
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / feeds on
pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta imperfecta feeds on live stem of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / feeds on
basally immersed pseudothecium of Byssothecium circinans feeds on rootstock of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / spot causer
acervulus of Colletotrichum coelomycetous anamorph of Colletotrichum trifolii causes spots on live stem of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / feeds on
Hypera meles feeds on Medicago sativa
Foodplant / spot causer
conidioma of Sporonema coelomycetous anamorph of Leptotrochila medicaginis causes spots on live leaf of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / miner
larva of Liriomyza congesta mines leaf of Medicago sativa
Other: major host/prey
Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Ophiomyia curvipalpis may be found in stem of Medicago sativa
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / sap sucker
Palomena prasina sucks sap of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / parasite
sporangium of Peronospora aestivalis parasitises live Medicago sativa
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
sporangium of Peronospora trifoliorum parasitises live Medicago sativa
Foodplant / pathogen
pycnidium of Phoma coelomycetous anamorph of Phoma medicaginis var. medicaginis infects and damages live stem of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / spot causer
immersed pycnidium of Phyllosticta coelomycetous anamorph of Phyllosticta medicaginis causes spots on live leaf of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / gall
Physoderma alfalfae causes gall of live, conspicously warted stipule of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / spot causer
apothecium of Pseudopeziza medicaginis causes spots on live leaf of Medicago sativa
Remarks: season: 6-12
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Sitona hispidulus feeds on root of Medicago sativa
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Sitona lepidus feeds on Medicago sativa
Foodplant / parasite
mostly hypophyllous uredium of Uromyces pisi-sativi parasitises live leaf of Medicago sativa
Other: minor host/prey