An agricultural non-native forage crop cultivated extensively in Wisconsin.
The blooming alfalfa plant appears in numerous colors on the Wisconsin landscape in unlikely locations along rivers, creeks, and roadsides.
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Alfalfa seeds were imported to California from Chile in the 1850s, beginning a rapid and extensive introduction of the crop over the western US States and introducing the word "alfalfa" to the English language.
In the North American colonies of the eastern US in the 18th century, it was called "lucerne", and many trials at growing it were made. Its needs weren't well understood, and early attempts at growing it failed.
"Lucerne" is the name currently used for alfalfa in France, Germany and Britain,and arose in the 16th century from the Provençal luzerno ("glow worm"), due to its shiny seeds...
credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa
