Blooms: May-September
Habit: herb
Duration: annual,biennial,perennial
Origin: Introduced
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout Washington; introduced throughout the United States
Habitat: Widespread weed of roadsides and waste ground.
Habit: herb
Duration: annual,biennial,perennial
Origin: Introduced
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout Washington; introduced throughout the United States
Habitat: Widespread weed of roadsides and waste ground.
Species Description:
General: Herbaceous biennial from a strong taproot, the stem 0.5-3 m. tall, freely branched above, glabrous to pubescent.
Leaves: Leaves trifoliate, the leaflets elliptic to oblanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long, serrate almost to the base.
Flowers: Inflorescence of several elongate, spike-like racemes 3-12 cm. long, arising in the leaf axils, with linear bracts about 2 mm. long; flowers small, pea-like, white or yellow, about 5 mm. long; calyx teeth 5, equal, narrowly lanceolate.
Fruits: Pod 3-4 mm. long.
General: Herbaceous biennial from a strong taproot, the stem 0.5-3 m. tall, freely branched above, glabrous to pubescent.
Leaves: Leaves trifoliate, the leaflets elliptic to oblanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long, serrate almost to the base.
Flowers: Inflorescence of several elongate, spike-like racemes 3-12 cm. long, arising in the leaf axils, with linear bracts about 2 mm. long; flowers small, pea-like, white or yellow, about 5 mm. long; calyx teeth 5, equal, narrowly lanceolate.
Fruits: Pod 3-4 mm. long.
Accepted Name:
Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.Synonyms:
(none)
Treated in Flora of the PNW as:
Melilotus alba, Melilotus officinalis
Additional Resources:
PNW Herbaria Specimens: View list of Melilotus officinalis specimens in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WTU Herbarium Specimens: View list of Melilotus officinalis specimens in the WTU Herbarium database.
Washington Flora Checklist: Melilotus officinalis treatment.
E-Flora BC: Melilotus officinalis atlas page.
CalPhotos: Melilotus officinalis images.
USDA Plants Database: Melilotus officinalis.
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2005
Ben Legler, 2005
Ben Legler, 2005
Richard Old
Richard Old
Richard Old
Richard Old
Richard Old
G. D. Carr, 2008
G. D. Carr, 2008
G. D. Carr, 2008
G. D. Carr, 2008
G. D. Carr, 2008
G. D. Carr, 2008
G. D. Carr, 2008
Harry Thomas, 2011
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 WA Native Plant Society |
