ABSTRACT
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is member of the genus Medicago within the Fabaceae family. Taxonomic treatment of the genus, and in particular, closely related taxa, has been comprehensively discussed by Small (2011), who provides the most straightforward organization of the genus. His monograph updates and expands several former descriptions of the genus (Sinskaya 1950; Lesins and Lesins 1979; Quiros and Bauchan 1988). Regarding alfalfa, Small (2011) states: “The taxonomic treatment of M. sativa, the most important species of Medicago, has been, in my opinion, intolerable. … [T]he classifi cations are based on (a) extreme taxonomic splitting … and (b) misinterpretation of geographically localized introgression and hybrid wild alfalfa populations as genuine species.” The numerous taxonomic synonyms for alfalfa and its relatives are listed by Small (2011), which makes a useful cross-reference to help understand the oftentimes confusing literature.
