Career
Born in Weiterstadt-Gräfenhausen, Grand Duchy of Hesse, he described a number of plant species in his published works, taking a particular interest in legumes and malvaceae. He attempted to give a systematic treatment of German crops in one work, in addition to writing treatises on herbal baths and cultivated plants of potential usefulness. A number of his essays appeared in the botanical literature of the day.
Articles in Oesterreichische Botanische Zeitschrift (Oesterr Botany Z) The Austrian Botanical Magazine
Landwirthschaftliche flora(Landw Fl) oder Die nutzbaren kultivirten Gartenund Feldgewächse Mitteleuropa"s in allen ihren wilden und Kulturvarietäten für Landwirthe, Gärtner, Gartenfreunde und Botaniker insbesondere für landwirthschaftliche Lehranstalten.
Berlin, Wiegandt & Hempel, 1866. Grundzüge der Phytobalneologie.
Oder, Der Lehre von den Kräuter-Bädern. Neuwied, Heuser, 1863.
Die Bienen-Flora Deutschlands und der Schweiz.
Neuwied, Heuser, 1863. (The Bee-Flora in Germany and Switzerland)
A work that describes the plants of the region that are pollinated by honey bees
IPNI gives over 300 plants names with Alefeld as the author of the accepted descriptions. Many of these remain current.
He died at Ober-Ramstadt.