1, the distribution range is different

Alfalfa (alfalfa generally refers to purple clover):

Domestic distribution: cultivated or semi-wild throughout the country. Born in fields, roadsides, open fields, grasslands, riverbanks and ravines. Baokang, Xiangfan, Laohekou, Gucheng, Qianjiang mainly. Foreign distribution: Eurasia and the world widely planted for fodder and pasture.

Yellow clover (yellow clover generally refers to wild clover):

Distributed throughout northeastern China, northern China and northwestern China. It is abundant in Europe and widely distributed in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Iran and other Asian regions, and has been introduced and cultivated in various countries around the world.

2, different morphological characteristics

Alfalfa:

30-100 cm high. Roots deep into the soil, root neck developed. Stems are erect, tufted to prostrate, 4-angled, glabrous or puberulent, branching and leafy. Inflorescences racemose or capitate, 1-2.5 cm long, with 5-30 flowers; common pedicel straight, longer than the leaves; flowers 6-12 mm long; pedicel short, ca. 2 mm long; corolla variously colored: yellowish, dark blue to dark purple. Seeds ovate, 1-2.5 mm, smooth, yellow or brown. Fl. May-July, fr. June-Aug.

Yellow Clover:

High (20) 40-100(-120) cm. Roots woody, stems prostrate or ascending, terete, much branched. Stems prostrate or ascending, terete, much branched. Inflorescences short racemose, 1-2(-4) cm long, with 6-20(-25) flowers, densely packed, few elongated at anthesis; common pedicels axillary, straight, as long as or slightly longer than leaves; flowers 6-9(-11) mm long; pedicels 2-3 mm long, hairy; corolla yellow. Seeds 2-4. Seeds ovate-elliptic, 2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, yellow-brown. Fl. 6-Aug, fr. 7-Sep.

3, the main value is different

Alfalfa:

Alfalfa is known for its high crude protein content. The crude protein of alfalfa has a complete range of amino acids and reasonable composition, containing more than 20 kinds of amino acids, including all the essential amino acids of human and animals, as well as some rare amino acids such as citrulline and sabinine. The proportion of protein and amino acid of alfalfa is balanced, similar to the proportion of protein and amino acid composition in animal body, with high conversion efficiency.

Yellow alfalfa:

Wild alfalfa is rich in vitamins A, C, E and a variety of amino acids, and the tip part of its young stems and leaves can be used as a vegetable, with high nutritive value and flavor, it is a high-quality green fodder for winter and spring season for pigs, cows, goats, rabbits, poultry, and equine animals. Pods ripe natural cracking, seed harvest is low, so there are still some technical problems in the field planting, mainly used to crossbreed with alfalfa to cultivate excellent new regional strains.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Alfalfa

Baidu Encyclopedia - Wild Clover