Alfalfa and Relatives. Evolution and Classification of Medicago. 2011. XXXIV, 727 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

Best known as an animal feed, Alfalfa Medicago sativa is one of the most important and widely produced livestock crops grown throughout the temperate world. The book provides an introduction to the Medicago genus, exploring its evolution, breeding and adaptation. Not only are Alfalfa's agricultural and environmental benefits unsurpassed but, due to technological advances, this staple crop is now being developed as a source of human food extracts, pharmaceuticals, enzymes, industrial chemicals, and biofuels. Through this detailed text the authors define the ecological applications of the plant whilst illustrating its economic value and its growing importance as a genetic resource.