Alfalfa

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alfalfa

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Genus Medicago, species sativa
2. What is the ecological role?Nitrogen fixation through symbiotic bacteria in root nodules
3. What is alfalfa and why is it called a super plant?Alfalfa is a plant with purple flowers and leaves that look like little clover. It is called a super plant because it feeds animals and helps the Earth by adding nitrogen to the soil.
4. How does alfalfa help animals?Alfalfa is a tasty and nutritious feed for cows, horses, sheep, and other farm animals. It gives them protein, vitamins, and minerals that keep them healthy and strong.

Perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years, often producing flowers and seeds annually.
Forage Crop: Vegetation grown specifically for the purpose of feeding livestock.
Nitrogen Fixation: The biological conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia, a usable nutrient for plants.
Symbiotic Relationship: A close, long-term interaction between two different biological species.