Flower:

Flowers are in a round or short cylindrical cluster at the end of long stems that arise from the leaf axils. Individual flowers are about 1/3 inch long and a typical shape for a member of the pea family, except the lower lobes are spread apart exposing the throat. Flower color ranges from pale lavender to deep violet.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are compound in 3's, each leaflet up to 1 inch long and 1/3 inch wide, widest at or above the middle and tapering at the base. Leaflets may be sparsely hairy on the underside and have a few small teeth at the tip end. Leaf color is olive to blue-green and there is a chevron pattern of light green lines on the surface. The main stem is 4-angled and hairless. A mature plant can have multiple stems.

Notes:

Alfalfa is a cultivated crop that escaped and now commonly grows along roads and degraded fields.