Introduced, yearlong-green, perennial, erect legume; to 1m tall. Leaves have 3 leaflets, each to 30 mm long and with toothed margins near the tip; the stalk of central leaflet is longer than the two lateral ones. Flowerheads are racemes of 20-30, mostly purple, pea-like flowers. Pods are cylindrical and spineless, with 2-3 coils. Flowering is from spring to autumn. A native of the Mediterranean and Asia, it is sown on deep well-drained soils (e.g. alluvial flats) and is naturalised along roadsides. Does not like acid soils with a pHCa below 5 and is very sensitive to aluminium to depth. Deep-rooted, high quality, high production potential legume, it is suitable for hay, silage, grazing and cropping. Varieties vary in their winter dormancy and disease resistance. There are a number of leaf and crown diseases which can affect lucerne stands on the coast, so