SDSU: Plant Specimens - Medicago falcata

Natural History Specimen - 11.5 x 16.5 in. (29.21 x 41.91 cm.)

UA053-004-3D-0198

198. The Siberian alfalfa as found wild at Omsk in western Siberia. In my Siberian investigation I learned that as found wild upon the Siberian steppes, this is a valuable forage plant in regions where the mercury freeze, sometimes without snow; that it is green very early in the spring; that it endures severe drought, that it does well upon soils underlaid with hardpan; that it is considerably resistant to alkali; that it flourishes where the common alfalfa from Europe winterkills; that the Siberian form of this species is so much superior to the European form in hardiness and other desirable characteristics that to go by the botanical name only, is very misleading. The present sample is from hay cut from wild plants before my arrival.

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