ACQUIZHEN

Alfalfa – Medicago sativa

Medicago sativa has purple flowers in the shape characteristic of the Fabacea (or Bean) family; an upright standard petal, two petals like wings on either side and two petals joining at the bottom to form the keel (shaped like the keel of a boat). When heavy insects with long tongues, such as bees, land in a Medicago sativa flower to drinks its nectar an unusual pollinating mechanism is triggered. When the insect lands the stigma (female part of the flower) hits the underside of the insect where pollen from preciously visited flowers is picked up, simultaneously the stamens (male parts of the flower) dust more pollen on the insect ready to be carried to the next Medicago sativa flower visited. This is unusual as while a lot of flowers are insect pollinated and have their flower arranged to maximise transference of pollen very few move their parts to make sure that contact is made with the insect. The pollinated flowers develop into seed pods in the attractive shape of spirals of two or three turns.

Like most members of the Fabacea family Medicago sativa has nodules on its roots which contain Rhizobium bacteria. The bacteria benefit from sugars and a stable oxygen supply provided by the plant. The plant is supplied with fertiliser by the bacteria as they fix nitrogen from the air in a format useable by the plant. Nitrogen is an essential component of the protein the plant manufactures. Because Medicago sativa is also deep rooted and brings nutrients up in the soil it enriches the soil and is often planted as a green manure to increase soil fertility. Grown under the name of Lucerne it is used as a protein rich fodder crop as the seeds and leaves are high in vitamins and protein and the same plants can be cut and harvested several times in one year. People also eat the sprouted seeds known by the name of Alfalfa. Whichever name it is referred to by it is a remarkable nutritious crop which as a green manure also has an important role in organic agriculture.

The plant is grown as a source of chlorophyll and carotene and the leaves of this vigorous plant also contain Vitamin K and the anti-oxidant tricin. ACQUIZHEN have used Medicago sativa extract as a nourishing component in the Replenishing Day Cream, Eye & Delicate Skin Serum, Nurturing Night Cream, Freshening Cleanser and the Gentle Exfoliating Mask.