Medicago sativa (leaf)

Nomenclature

Medicago sativa L.   Fabaceae  
Standardized common name (English): alfalfa

Botanical Voucher Specimen

Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org	Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.	Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Macroscopic Characteristics

Source: PlantaPhile	Source: PlantaPhile

Microscopic Characteristics

Long unicellular trichome showing warted exine observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories	Prisms of calcium oxalate observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories

High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Identification

Medicago sativa L. HPTLC ID - Ninhydrin Reagent, Visible Light Alfalfa (leaf) (Medicago sativa L.) Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample): 1 μL Arginine ~0.1% in CH3OH 3 μL ‘‘Medicago sativa’’ L. (leaf) 3 μL ‘‘Medicago sativa’’ L. (herb) 3 μL ‘‘Medicago sativa’’ L. (leaf) 3 μL ‘‘Medicago sativa’’ L. (leaf) 3 μL ‘‘Medicago sativa’’ L. (leaf) 3 μL ‘‘Medicago sativa’’ L. (leaf) 3 μL Canavanine ~0.1% in CH3OH Reference materials used here have been authenticated by macroscopic, microscopic &/or TLC studies according to the reference source cited below held at Alkemists Laboratories, Costa Mesa, CA.  Stationary Phase Silica gel 60, F254, 10 x 10 cm HPTLC plates  Mobile Phase n-butanol: pyridine: AcCOOH: H2O [5/1.25/1.25/2]  Sample Preparation Method 0.3 g + 3 ml CH3OH sonicated + heated @ 50° C ~ 1 hr.  Detection Method Ninhydrin Reagent -> visible light  Reference see Phytochemical Methods, Harborne, J.B., 1998, p. 198 Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories